Case series on resection of symptomatic bifid ribs: A successful and safe treatment option.

Introduction: Bifid ribs are a type of, generally asymptomatic, congenital chest wall abnormality. However, patients sometimes complain about chronic chest pains, deformities and respiratory difficulty. There is limited literature regarding treatment of symptomatic bifid ribs.

Biomechanical characteristics of rib fracture fixation systems.

Background: The primary aim of this study was to determine and compare the biomechanical properties of a fractured or intact rib after implant fixation on an embalmed thorax.

Methods: Five systems were fixated on the bilateral fractured or intact (randomly allocated) 6th to 10th rib of five post-mortem embalmed human specimens. Each rib underwent a four-point bending test to determine the bending structural stiffness (Newton per m), load to failure (Newton), failure mode, and the relative difference in bending structural stiffness and load to failure as compared to a non-fixated intact rib.

Surgical stabilization of rib fractures versus nonoperative treatment in patients with multiple rib fractures following cardiopulmonary resuscitation: An international, retrospective matched case-control study.

Background: The presence of six or more rib fractures or a displaced rib fracture due to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) has been associated with longer hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS). Evidence on the effect of surgical stabilization of rib fractures (SSRF) following CPR is limited. This study aimed to evaluate outcomes after SSRF versus nonoperative management in patients with multiple rib fractures after CPR.

Intercostal lung herniation; a rare complication after mini-transthoracic approach (TTA) for thoracic disc herniation. Two case reports and review of literature.

Background: Lung herniation is a rare condition, most often due to thoracic injury, but has also been described as a complication following cardiothoracic surgery. Here, we report two cases of post-surgical lung herniation following a neurosurgical mini-transthoracic (mini-TTA) for treatment of thoracic herniated discs. With this report we aim to make surgeons aware of this rare complication, review existing literature on surgical repairs and describe our novel correction technique using video assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) and a combination of mesh covering the muscle defect internally and nitinol rib plates for rib approximation on the outside of the thoracic cavity.

Outcome after surgical stabilization of symptomatic rib fracture nonunion: a multicenter retrospective case series.

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the long-term level of pain after surgical treatment of one or more symptomatic rib fracture nonunions. Secondary aims were to evaluate the occurrence of adverse events, satisfaction, and activity resumption. The final aim was to assess the association between pain and the presence of bridging callus at the nonunified fracture.

Visual diagnosis of pectus excavatum: An inter-observer and intra-observer agreement analysis.

Background/purpose: Among patients suspected of pectus excavatum, visual examination is a key aspect of diagnosis and, moreover, guides work-up and treatment strategy. This study evaluated the inter-observer and intra-observer agreement of visual examination and diagnosis of pectus excavatum among experts.

Methods: Three-dimensional surface images of consecutive patients suspected of pectus excavatum were reviewed in a multi-center setting.

Early fixation versus conservative therapy of multiple, simple rib fractures (FixCon): protocol for a multicenter randomized controlled trial.

Background: Multiple rib fractures are common injuries in both the young and elderly. Rib fractures account for 10% of all trauma admissions and are seen in up to 39% of patients after thoracic trauma. With morbidity and mortality rates increasing with the number of rib fractures as well as poor quality of life at long-term follow-up, multiple rib fractures pose a serious health hazard.

Dutch Lung Surgery Audit: A National Audit Comprising Lung and Thoracic Surgery Patients.

Background: The nationwide Dutch Lung Surgery Audit (DLSA) started in 2012 to monitor and evaluate the quality of lung operations in The Netherlands as an improvement tool. This outline describes the establishment, structure, and organization of the audit by the Dutch Society of Lung Surgeons (NVvL) and the Dutch Society of Cardiothoracic Surgeons (NVT), in collaboration with the Dutch Institute for Clinical Auditing. In addition, the first 4-year results are presented.

Pediatric complex divergent elbow dislocation.

A divergent dislocation of the elbow is a very rare injury, and only a few cases have been described in the literature. It is characterized as a dorsal dislocation of the ulnohumeral joint combined with a lateral dislocation of the proximal radius. All three articulations of the elbow joint are involved.