Outcomes of surgical stabilization of rib fractures in a minority population: Retrospective analysis of a case series from an acute care facility

OBJECTIVE: The aim of was to examine the postoperative outcomes and associated factors of surgical stabilization of rib fracture (SSRF) in a minority population. METHODS: A retrospective analysis with case series of 10 patients undergoing SSRF at an acute care facility in New York City was performed. Data, including patient demographic characteristics, comorbidities, hospital length of stay were collected. Results were presented in comparative tables and a Kaplan-Meier curve. Primary outcome was to compare outcomes of SSRF in minority patients to larger studies in nonminority populations. Secondary outcomes included various postoperative outcomes, including atelectasis, pain, and infection, and the influence of medical comorbidities on each. RESULTS: The median time (with accompanying interquartile range) from diagnosis to SSRF, SSRF to discharge, and overall length of stay was 4.5 days (4.25), 6.0 days (17.00) and 10.5 days (18.25) days, respectively. The time until SSRF and postoperative complication rate were found to be comparable to those in larger studies. The Kaplan-Meier curve demonstrates a correlation between persistence of atelectasis to increased length of stay (P = .05). Increased time to SSRF was seen in elderly patients and patients with diabetes (P = .012 and P = .019, respecively). Increased pain requirements by patients with diabetes (P = .007), and higher infectious complications in patients with flail chest and diabetes (P = .035 and P = .002, respectively) were also seen. CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary outcomes and complication rates of SSRF in a minority population are shown to be comparable to larger studies in nonminority populations. Larger, higher-powered studies are required to further compare outcomes between these 2 populations.