[The fixation of the flail chest with tension band wires (author's transl)].

A new technique of internal fixation of the flail chest was tested successfully in sheep. After reduction a 0.8 mm wire is passed twice intramedullary across the fracture and twisted under tension with two loops on the external side of the rib. This wire neutralizes bending and rotational forces and produces axial interfragmental compression. Combined with tension band wire fixation of an eventually fractures sternum it produced sufficient stability even in the very thin parasternal part of ribs. No respiratory support was necessary postoperatively. The method is simple and needs no special equipment.