BACKGROUND: Previous studies demonstrate an association between rib fractures and morbidity and mortality in trauma. This relationship in low-mechanism injuries, such as ground-level fall, is less clearly defined. Furthermore, computed tomography (CT) has increased sensitivity for rib fractures compared with chest x-ray (CXR); its utility in elderly fall patients is unknown. We sought to determine whether CT-diagnosed rib fractures in elderly fall patients with a normal CXR were associated with increased in-hospital resource utilization or mortality. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of emergency department patients presenting over a 3-year period. INCLUSION CRITERIA: age, 65 years or older; chief complaint, including mechanical fall; and both CXR and CT obtained. We quantified rib fractures on CXR and CT and reported operating characteristics for both. Outcomes of interest included hospital admission/length of stay (LOS), intensive care unit (ICU) admission/LOS, endotracheal intubation, tube thoracostomy, locoregional anesthesia, pneumonia, in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: We identified 330 patients, mean age was 84 years (±SD, 9.4 years); 269 (82%) of 330 were admitted. There were 96 (29%) patients with CT-diagnosed rib fracture, 56 (17%) by CT only. Compared with CT, CXR had a sensitivity of 40% (95% confidence interval, 30-50%) and specificity of 99% (95% confidence interval, 97-100%) for rib fracture. A median of two additional radiographically occult rib fractures were identified on CT. Despite an increased hospital admission rate (91% vs. 78%) p = 0.02, there was no difference between patients with and without radiographically occult (CT+ CXR-) rib fracture(s) for: median LOS (4; interquartile range (IQR) 2-7 vs 4, IQR 2-8); p = 0.92), ICU admission (28% vs. 27%) p = 0.62, median ICU LOS (2, IQR 1-8 vs 3, IQR 1-5) p = 0.54, or in-hospital mortality (10.3% vs. 7.3%) p = 0.45. CONCLUSION: Among elderly fall patients, CT-identified rib fractures were associated with increased hospital admissions. However, there was no difference in procedural interventions, ICU admission, hospital/ICU LOS or mortality for patients with and without radiographically occult fractures. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic, level III.
BACKGROUND: Previous studies demonstrate an association between rib fractures and morbidity and mortality in trauma. This relationship in low-mechanism injuries, such as ground-level fall, is less clearly defined. Furthermore, computed tomography (CT) has increased sensitivity for rib fractures compared with chest x-ray (CXR); its utility in elderly fall patients is unknown. We sought to determine whether CT-diagnosed rib fractures in elderly fall patients with a normal CXR were associated with increased in-hospital resource utilization or mortality. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of emergency department patients presenting over a 3-year period. INCLUSION CRITERIA: age, 65 years or older; chief complaint, including mechanical fall; and both CXR and CT obtained. We quantified rib fractures on CXR and CT and reported operating characteristics for both. Outcomes of interest included hospital admission/length of stay (LOS), intensive care unit (ICU) admission/LOS, endotracheal intubation, tube thoracostomy, locoregional anesthesia, pneumonia, in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: We identified 330 patients, mean age was 84 years (±SD, 9.4 years); 269 (82%) of 330 were admitted. There were 96 (29%) patients with CT-diagnosed rib fracture, 56 (17%) by CT only. Compared with CT, CXR had a sensitivity of 40% (95% confidence interval, 30-50%) and specificity of 99% (95% confidence interval, 97-100%) for rib fracture. A median of two additional radiographically occult rib fractures were identified on CT. Despite an increased hospital admission rate (91% vs. 78%) p = 0.02, there was no difference between patients with and without radiographically occult (CT+ CXR-) rib fracture(s) for: median LOS (4; interquartile range (IQR) 2-7 vs 4, IQR 2-8); p = 0.92), ICU admission (28% vs. 27%) p = 0.62, median ICU LOS (2, IQR 1-8 vs 3, IQR 1-5) p = 0.54, or in-hospital mortality (10.3% vs. 7.3%) p = 0.45. CONCLUSION: Among elderly fall patients, CT-identified rib fractures were associated with increased hospital admissions. However, there was no difference in procedural interventions, ICU admission, hospital/ICU LOS or mortality for patients with and without radiographically occult fractures. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic, level III.
Authors: Sandra Niedermeier; Rebecca Wania; Alina Lampart; Robert Stahl; Christoph Trumm; Christian Kammerlander; Wolfgang Böcker; Christian H Nickel; Roland Bingisser; Marco Armbruster; Vera Pedersen Journal: Diagnostics (Basel) Date: 2022-01-30
Authors: Li-Wen Huang; Dong Sun; Thomas M Link; Thomas Lang; Weiyun Ai; Lawrence D Kaplan; Michael A Steinman; Charalambos Andreadis Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2021-03-10 Impact factor: 3.603
Authors: Alina Lampart; Isabelle Arnold; Nina Mäder; Sandra Niedermeier; Armin Escher; Robert Stahl; Christoph Trumm; Christian Kammerlander; Wolfgang Böcker; Christian Nickel; Roland Bingisser; Vera Pedersen Journal: J Clin Med Date: 2019-12-30 Impact factor: 4.241
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Authors: Jonne T H Prins; Mathieu M E Wijffels; Sophie M Wooldrik; Martien J M Panneman; Michael H J Verhofstad; Esther M M Van Lieshout Journal: Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg Date: 2021-04-12 Impact factor: 2.374