Surgery for Unstable Chest Wall Injuries - How Many Fractures Should be Fixed?

Trial statusNot yet recruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18+
SponsorSahlgrenska University Hospital

About this trial

The goal of this prospective, randomized study is to learn about the effects of two different surgical techniques for treating unstable chest wall injuries in adults. The main questions it aims to answer are:

Does fixing two fractures per rib lead to better healing than fixing one fracture per rib in patients with unstable chest injuries? Does the choice of surgical method affect lung function, pain, other symptoms, risk of pneumonia, or the risk of complications?

Participants will:

* Undergo surgery using either the standard method (fixing one fracture per rib) or an alternative method (fixing two fractures per rib), both using a muscle-sparing technique. * Be followed up at 1, 3, and 12 months after surgery. * Have CT scans at 3 months (and at 12 months if healing is incomplete) to assess bone healing. * Be evaluated for lung function, pain, symptoms, and complications.

This study aims to provide new knowledge about which surgical method is best for unstable chest wall injuries, helping to improve treatment and recovery for these patients.

Eligibility criteria

Qualifiers

Patients scheduled for surgery of acute (≤7 days after trauma) unstable injuries in the chest wall at the Department of Surgery, Sahlgrenska University Hospital

Both parts of the unstable segment must be accessible for surgery.

Disqualifiers

Patients with injuries resulting from CPR

Patients with severe head injury (Head AIS>3)

Patients with spinal injury

Patients with neurological or musculoskeletal disease affecting chest wall mobility.

Trial design

Treatments tested in this trial

  • Surgical stabilization of two fractures per rib
  • Surgical stabilization of one fracture per rib.

Treatment groups

100 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groups