RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Limited Influence of Flail Chest in Patients With Blunt Thoracic Trauma – A Matched-pair Analysis JF In Vivo JO In Vivo FD International Institute of Anticancer Research SP 133 OP 139 DO 10.21873/invivo.11449 VO 33 IS 1 A1 PETER GETZ A1 PHILIPP MOMMSEN A1 JAN-DIERK CLAUSEN A1 MARCEL WINKELMANN YR 2019 UL http://iv.iiarjournals.org/content/33/1/133.abstract AB Background: Flail chest is considered as one of the most severe forms of blunt thoracic trauma. However, its actual influence on post-traumatic morbidity and mortality is debatable. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort analysis was performed of multiply injured patients (injury severity score ≥16) at a level I trauma center. Flail chest was defined as segment fracture of at least three consecutive ribs on at least one side. Propensity score matching was performed. Results: A total of 600 patients were included, with a mean age of 44.1±19.1 years and a mean injury severity score of 31.6±10.4. Overall, 367 patients (61.2%) had a serial rib fracture. Forty-five patients (7.5%) presented with flail chest. Patients with flail chest more often had lung contusions (70 vs. 50%, p=0.04) and pneumo-/hematothorax (93 vs. 71%, p=0.005). There were no differences in post-traumatic morbidity and mortality. Conclusion: Flail chest had no independent influence in addition to injury severity on post-traumatic morbidity and mortality in multiply injured patients with blunt thoracic trauma.