Prospective randomized trial of metal versus resorbable plates in surgical stabilization of rib fractures.

Background: Surgical stabilization of rib fractures has gained popularity as both metal and resorbable plates have been approved for fracture repair. Is there a difference between metal and resorbable plate rib fixation regarding rib fracture alignment, control of pain, and quality-of-life (QOL) scores (Rand SF-36 survey)?

Methods: Eligible patients (pts) included 18 years or older with one or more of the following: flail chest, one or more bicortical displaced fractures (3-10), nondisplaced fractures with failure of medical management. Patients were randomized to either metal or resorbable plate fixation.

The effect of the 16-hour intern workday restriction on surgical residents' in-hospital activities.

Objective: To observe the effects of the 2011 Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education 16-hour intern workday restrictions on surgical residents' clinical and educational activities.

Design: All the residents recorded the following weekly in-hospital activities during February and March 2011 (year before intern work restrictions) and 2012 (first year under new requirements): operating room (OR) and clinic; bedside procedures; rounds and ward work; on-call duties in hospital; communication (e.g.

After-hours complications: evaluation of the predictive accuracy of resident sign-out.

Resident duty-hour restrictions demand effective communication and teamwork in patient care. The process of resident sign-out is a potential source of miscommunication and medical error. Resident sign-out was followed over a 3-month period.