Evaluation of Traumatic Vertebra and Rib Fractures

Background: In our study, we aimed to examine the relationship between trauma-related thoracic vertebral fractures and/or rib fractures location, age and gender. Methods: Between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020, 100 patients with trauma-related thoracic vertebral fracture and/or rib fracture were included in the study. Rib fractures and thoracic vertebral fractures were analyzed according to age, gender, level and fracture type. The correlation between rib and vertebral fractures was investigated. Results: 72% of the patients were male and 28% were female, mean age was 48.49 ± 18.83. Thoracic vertebral corpus fractures were detected most frequently in T8 in 22 patients and in T1 in at least 1 patient. Spinous process fracture was found to be highest in T2 with 9 patients, and 1 patient each in T5, T6, and T12. Transverse processes fracture was seen in T9 with a maximum of 5 patients. Rib fractures were observed more frequently on the right. Displaced rib fractures were most common in the 6th and 7th ribs, and non-displaced rib fractures were observed in the 5th ribs with 9 patients. Left rib fractures were most common in the 5th rib, with 6 displaced patients and 8 non-displaced patients. When the thoracic vertebral fractures and rib fractures were examined depending on the age variable, it was determined that the fractures in the T2 spinous, T3 spinous, T5 corpus and T8 vertebral corpus, and rib fractures in the right 4,6,8,10 and left 2 and 4 differ depending on the age variable (p<0.05). When thoracic vertebral fractures and rib fractures were analyzed depending on gender, a correlation was found between T7 vertebral body fractures and left 6th rib fractures (p<0.05). Conclusion: The coexistence of vertebral and rib fractures should be kept in mind in trauma patients, and plans for diagnosis and treatment should be made accordingly.