A comparative of multiple rib fractures with embracing fixators and riblocking titanium plates.

Objective: To compare the clinical efficacy and safety between embracing fixator and rib-locking titanium plate in the treatment of multiple rib fractures.

Methods: The retrospective study was conducted at the Sichuan Province Orthopaedics Hospital, China, and comprised clinical data from January 2020 to December 2022 of patients with multiple rib fractures. The patients were divided into the embracing fixator group A and rib-locking titanium plate group B. Data was analysed using SPSS 22.

Results: Of the 100 patients, 50(50%) were in each of the two groups. There were 35(70%) males and 15(30%) females in group A with mean age 51.38±10.62 years (range: 25-62 years) compared to 33(66%) males and 17(34%) females with mean age 51.48±10.93 years (range: 27-65 years) (p>0.05). Surgical duration and incisional length were shorter, and the blood loss was smaller in group B compared to group A (p<0.05). Three months after treatment, the visual analogue scale VAS) score of group B was lower than group A (p<0.05). All markers of pulmonary function significantly improved both groups (p<0.05) compared to baseline values, but group B patients showed more and better improvement than group A (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in terms of the incidence of complications between the groups (p>0.05).

Conclusions: The rib-locking titanium plate treatment for multiple rib fractures showed the advantages of minimal trauma, simple operation, minimal bleeding, low postoperative pain, significant improvement in lung function, and no increase in postoperative complications.