Samuel Racine1, Marcel Émond1, Jean-Sébastien Audette-Côté2, Natalie Le Sage1, Chantal Guimont3, Lynne Moore1, Jean-Marc Chauny4, Éric Bergeron1, Laurent Vanier5. 1. *Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé,Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec,Hôpital de l'Enfant-Jésus,Québec,QC. 2. ¶Centre hospitalier régional de Lanaudière,Joliette,QC. 3. †Département de médecine familiale et de médecine d'urgence,Université Laval,Québec,QC. 4. ‡Centre hospitalier du Sacré-Cœur de Montréal,Montréal,QC. 5. §Centre hospitalier de Charles-LeMoyne,Greenfield Park,Longueuil,QC.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of delayed complications, specifically hemothorax, and functional outcome in patients with isolated sternal fracture discharged from the emergency department (ED) compared to patients with other minor thoracic trauma. METHODS: This prospective cohort study was conducted in four university-affiliated Canadian EDs. Patients ages 16 and older discharged from the ED with an isolated minor thoracic injury were included and categorized as isolated sternal fracture, rib fracture, or no fracture. A standardized clinical and radiological follow-up was performed at 7 and 14 days as well as a phone follow-up at 30 and 90 days post-injury. Functional outcome was determined using the Medical Outcome Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12). RESULTS: A total of 969 patients were included, of whom 32 (3.3%) had an isolated sternal fracture, 304 (31.3%) had rib fracture, and 633 (65.3%) had no fracture. Within 14 days, 112 patients presented with a delayed hemothorax: 12.5% of sternal fracture patients, 23% of rib fracture(s) patients, and 6% of minor thoracic injury patients without fracture (p<0.05). At 90 days, 57.1% of patients with sternal fracture had moderate to severe disability compared to 25.4% and 21.2% for both of the other groups, respectively (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: In this prospective study, we found that 12.5% (n=4, p<0.05) of patients with sternal fracture developed a delayed hemothorax, but the clinical significance of this remains questionable. The proportion of patients with sternal fracture who had moderate to severe disability was significantly higher than that of patients with other minor thoracic trauma.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of delayed complications, specifically hemothorax, and functional outcome in patients with isolated sternal fracture discharged from the emergency department (ED) compared to patients with other minor thoracic trauma. METHODS: This prospective cohort study was conducted in four university-affiliated Canadian EDs. Patients ages 16 and older discharged from the ED with an isolated minor thoracic injury were included and categorized as isolated sternal fracture, rib fracture, or no fracture. A standardized clinical and radiological follow-up was performed at 7 and 14 days as well as a phone follow-up at 30 and 90 days post-injury. Functional outcome was determined using the Medical Outcome Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12). RESULTS: A total of 969 patients were included, of whom 32 (3.3%) had an isolated sternal fracture, 304 (31.3%) had rib fracture, and 633 (65.3%) had no fracture. Within 14 days, 112 patients presented with a delayed hemothorax: 12.5% of sternal fracturepatients, 23% of rib fracture(s) patients, and 6% of minor thoracic injurypatients without fracture (p<0.05). At 90 days, 57.1% of patients with sternal fracture had moderate to severe disability compared to 25.4% and 21.2% for both of the other groups, respectively (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: In this prospective study, we found that 12.5% (n=4, p<0.05) of patients with sternal fracture developed a delayed hemothorax, but the clinical significance of this remains questionable. The proportion of patients with sternal fracture who had moderate to severe disability was significantly higher than that of patients with other minor thoracic trauma.