Recent advances in rib fracture fixation.

As a means of treating rib fractures, surgical stabilization of rib fractures (SSRF) has been carried out sporadically for nearly 100 years. However, with the recent advent of new materials and technologies suitable for SSRF, the developmental rate and data concerning SSRF have increased greatly. The main manifestations of these advancements include the improvement of the preoperative localization method by combining CT scanning with three-dimensional reconstruction technology and ultrasound application to accurately locate fractures. The bone fracture plate is specifically used for rib fixation, and the intramedullary fixation devices and special SSRF tools make SSRF relatively simple. The application of 3D printing technology can accurately reproduce the anatomical shape of the fracture site under in vitro conditions before operation and combine with the internal fixation of chest wall, especially the thoracoscopy-assisted internal fixation of the chest wall, to achieve the minimally invasive internal fixation of the rib fracture. Absorbable internal fixation materials and thoracoscopic SSRF are considered the primary future research directions.