• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제18권1호
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• pp.111-121
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• 1985

A clinical analysis was performed on 312 cases of the chest trauma experienced at department of thoracic surgery, Chosun University Hospital during the past 6 years 10 months period from January 1978 to October 1984. 1. The ratio of male to female patient of the chest trauma was 3.1:1 in male predominance and age from 20 to 50 occupied 71.2% of the total cases. 2. The most common cause of the chest trauma was traffic accidents [45.5%] in this series. 244 cases [78.2%]were injured due to non-penetrating injuries and the remainders [68 cases, 21.8%] were injured due to penetrating injuries. 3. The frequently injured site of the chest trauma was left side of the chest [56.4%], the right side was 33% and the both side was 10.6%. 4. The most common symptoms were chest pain and dyspnea, and common signs were diminished breathing sound and subcutaneous emphysema. 5. The Hemothorax, Pneumothorax, Hemopneumothorax, and Hemopericardium were observed in 190 cases [60.9%] of the total cases, and etiologic distribution revealed 76.5% due to penetrating injuries and 56.6% due to non-penetrating injuries. 6. The rib fractures were observed in 210 cases [67.3%] of the total cases and the most common site of the rib fracture was 6th rib 140 cases [19.2%]. The common site of the rib fracture was from 4th rib to 7th rib [63.8%]. 7. The lung injuries were observed in 150 cases [48.1%] and the other organ injuries were observed in 260 cases [83.3%]. 8. Conservative treatment including thoracentesis were performed in 153 cases [49.1%], Closed thoracotomy with water seal drainage were performed in 112 cases [35.9%], and open thoracotomy were performed in 45 cases [14.4%]. 9. The complications of the chest trauma were developed in 63 cases [20.2%] and the common complications were atelectasis, wound infection and pneumonitis etc. 10. Overall mortality was 0.96% [3 cases] and the cause of death was bacteremia, hypovolemic shock, heart failure and pulmonary edema.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제57권2호
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• pp.120-125
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• 2024

Background: This study aimed to assess the outcomes of patients with complex rib fractures undergoing operative or nonoperative management at our major trauma center. Methods: A retrospective review of all patients who were considered for surgical stabilization of rib fractures (SSRF) at a single major trauma center from May 2016 to September 2022 was performed. Results: In total, 352 patients with complex rib fractures were identified. Thirty-seven patients (11%) fulfilled the criteria for surgical management and underwent SSRF. The SSRF group had a significantly higher proportion of patients with flail chest (32 [86%] vs. 94 [27%], p<0.001) or Injury Severity Score (ISS) >15 (37 [100%] vs. 129 [41%], p<0.001). No significant differences were seen between groups for 1-year mortality. Patients who underwent SSRF within 72 hours were 6 times less likely to develop pneumonia than those in whom SSRF was delayed for over 72 hours (2 [18%] vs. 15 [58%]; odds ratio, 0.163; 95% confidence interval, 0.029-0.909; p=0.036). Prompt SSRF showed non-significant associations with shorter intensive care unit length of stay (6 days vs. 10 days, p=0.140) and duration of mechanical ventilation (5 days vs. 8 days, p=0.177). SSRF was associated with a longer hospital length of stay compared to nonoperative patients with flail chest and/or ISS >15 (19 days vs. 13 days, p=0.012), whilst SSRF within 72 hours was not. Conclusion: Surgical fixation of complex rib fractures improves outcomes in selected patient groups. Delayed surgical fixation was associated with increased rates of pneumonia and a longer hospital length of stay.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제29권3호
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• pp.185-188
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• 2016

The $12^{th}$ rib syndrome is a disease that causes pain between the upper abdomen and the lower chest. It is assumed that the impinging on the nerves between the ribs causes pain in the lower chest, upper abdomen, and flank. A 74-year-old female patient visited a pain clinic complaining of pain in her back, and left chest wall at a 7 on the 0-10 Numeric Rating scale (NRS). She had a lateral fixation at T12-L2, 6 years earlier. After the operation, she had multiple osteoporotic compression fractures. When the spine was bent, the patient complained about a sharp pain in the left mid-axillary line and radiating pain toward the abdomen. On physical examination, the $10^{th}$ rib was not felt, and an image of the rib-cage confirmed that the left $10^{th}$ rib was severed. When applying pressure from the legs to the $9^{th}$ rib of the patient, pain was reproduced. Therefore, the patient was diagnosed with $9^{th}$ rib syndrome, and ultrasound-guided $9^{th}$ and $10^{th}$ intercostal nerve blocks were performed around the tips of the severed $10^{th}$ rib. In addition, local anesthetics with triamcinolone were administered into the muscles beneath the $9^{th}$ rib at the point of the greatest tenderness. The patient's pain was reduced to NRS 2 point. In this case, it is suspected that the patient had a partial resection of the left $10^{th}$ rib in the past, and subsequent compression fractures at T8 and T9 led to the deformation of the rib cage, causing the tip of the remaining $10^{th}$ rib to impinge on the $9^{th}$ intercostal nerves, causing pain.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제15권4호
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• pp.414-421
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• 1982

200 patients admitted to the Chest Surgery Department of Jeonbug National University Hospital from January, 1974 to December, 1981 were analyzed clinically. The ratio of male to female was 7: 1, which showed male predominance. Distribution of patients according to age disclosed that over half [62%] of the patients was social age between 20 and 49 years. The most common cause of chest trauma was traffic accident [39%], and the next were stab wound, fall down [17.5%], and hit [8.5%] in decreasing order. Common lesions due to chest trauma were as follows; rib fracture [51%], hemopneumothorax, hemothorax, and pneumothorax in decreasing number. The most common cause of rib fracture was traffic accident [50%] and the associated organ injuries were long bone fracture, head injury, spine and pelvic bone fracture, spleen rupture, and liver laceration. Hemothorax, pneumothorax, and hemopneumothorax were treated with insertion of thoracic catheter in 90 cases, pure thoracentesis in 11 cases, and emergency thoracotomy in 11 cases. In flail chest, 6 patients were treated by intramedullary insertion of Kirschner`s wire and the results were good. The incidence of complication was 17%, including atelectasis [11 cases], pyothorax, fibrothorax, pneumonia, and acute respiratory failure. Four patients were died [2%], and the causes were acute respiratory failure in 2 cases, spinal cord injury in one case and head injury in one case.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제46권2호
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• pp.130-134
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• 2013

Background: Rib fractures are the most common type of thoracic trauma and cause other complications. We explored the risk factors for pneumonia in patients with multiple rib fractures. Materials and Methods: Four hundred and eighteen patients who visited our hospital with multiple rib fractures between January 2002 and December 2008 were retrospectively reviewed. Chest X-rays and chest computed tomography were used to identify injury severity. Patients with only a single rib fracture or who were transferred to another hospital within 2 days were excluded. Results: There were 327 male patients (78%), and the median age was 53 years. The etiologies of the patients' trauma included traffic accidents in 164 cases (39%), falls in 78 cases (19%), slipping and falling in 90 (22%), pedestrian accidents in 30 (7%), industrial accidents in 41 (10%), and assault in 15 (4%). The median number of rib fractures was 4.8. Pulmonary complications including flail chest (2.3%), lung contusion (22%), hemothorax (62%), pneumothorax (31%), and hemopneumothorax (20%) occurred. Chest tubes were inserted into the thoracic cavity in 216 cases (52%), and the median duration of chest tube insertion was 10.26 days. The Injury Severity Score (ISS) and rib score had a median of 15.27 and 6.9, respectively. Pneumonia occurred in 18 cases (4.3%). Of the total cases, 33% of the cases were managed in the intensive care unit (ICU), and the median duration of stay in the ICU was 7.74 days. Antibiotics were administered in 399 patients (95%) for a median of 10.53 days. Antibiotics were used for more than 6 days in 284 patients (68%). The factors affecting pneumonia in patients with multiple rib fractures in multivariate analysis included age (p=0.004), ISS (p<0.001), and rib score (p=0.038). The use of antibiotics was not associated with the occurrence of pneumonia (p=0.28). In-hospital mortality was 5.3% (n=22). Conclusion: The factors affecting risk of pneumonia in patients with multiple rib fractures included age (p=0.004), ISS (p<0.001), and rib score (p=0.038). Elderly patients with multiple traumas have a high risk of pneumonia and should be treated accordingly.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.138-141
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• 1997

Rib fracture due to intense pain, may restrict patients from inadequate coughing. These conditions may produce varying degrees of complications such as atelectasis, pneumonia and arterial hypoxemia. Thoracic epidural analgesia has been used to treat pain associated multiple rib fractures because of its marked improvement in vital capacity and dynamic lung compliance. However, there are complications related to thoracic epidural analgesia which may include damage to spinal cord, perforation of dura, respiratory depression, decrease heart rate and arterial blood pressure. We experienced such a case of cardiac arrest during thoracic epidural analgesia while treating a patient for multiple rib fractures.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제47권4호
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• pp.406-408
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• 2014

A 66-year-old male patient arrived at the emergency room with a crush injury to his chest. Multiple rib fractures, hemothorax on both sides, left scapular fracture, liver laceration, and retroperitoneal hematoma were found upon the radiologic examination. After closed thoracostomy, the patient had been initially admitted to the intensive care unit, but he was transferred to the general ward on the next day. On the 4th post-trauma day, the patient complained of severe pain and there was bloody drainage through the chest tube. This case is an exploration with the consideration of the possibility of major bleeding and the subsequent repair of the descending thoracic aorta. This case is regarded as a case in which the aorta wall was damaged as the sharp margin of the fractured ribs caused continuous irritation.

• 한국정보디스플레이학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국정보디스플레이학회 2003년도 International Meeting on Information Display
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• pp.771-774
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• 2003

The mechanical properties of barrier ribs in PDP require quantification in order to control the defects and to increase the yield in the process. Several different types of rib materials were tested for hardness (H) and Young's modulus (E) with a microtip indenter (Berkovich type). For the assessment of fracture toughness of the rib, a macro Vikers indenter was used. The materials with 30wt% of filler were fired at between $490^{\circ}C$ and $570^{\circ}C$. As a result, the composite became fully densified at $520^{\circ}C$, which is near the T s (Littleton softening point) of glass frit. As the filler content increased, the fracture toughness also $(K_{IC})$ increased in the range of 0.60 to 2.63 $MPa{\cdot}m^{0.5}$ after sintering at $550^{\circ}C$. The results suggest that the application of a nano-indenter would be useful for testing the mechanical properties of barrier ribs.

• 한국콘크리트학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국콘크리트학회 2006년도 춘계학술발표회 논문집(I)
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• pp.358-361
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• 2006

For giving self-diagnosing capability, a method based on monitoring the changes in the electrical resistance of carbon materials in strengthened concrete has been tested. Then after examining change in the value of electrical resistance of carbon materials used as a rib of CFGFRP or a sheet of carbon fiber before and after the occurrence of cracks and fracture in hybrid FRP or carbon fiber sheet strengthened concrete at each flexural weight-stage, the correlations of each factors were analyzed.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제54권1호
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• pp.59-64
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• 2021

Background: Diaphragmatic injuries following blunt or penetrating thoraco-abdominal trauma are rare, but can be life-threatening. Rib fractures are the most common associated injury in patients with a traumatic diaphragmatic injury (TDI). We hypothesized that the pattern of rib fracture injuries could dictate the likelihood of acute TDIs. Methods: A retrospective study was carried out between April 2014 and October 2018 to analyze patients with TDIs and rib fractures at a major trauma center in London, United Kingdom. Results: Over the study period, 1,560 patients had rib fractures, of whom 14 had associated diaphragmatic injuries. Left-sided diaphragmatic injuries were found in 8 patients (57%). A significant proportion of the rib fractures were located posterolaterally (44.9%). The highest frequency of fractures was found in ribs 5-10, which accounted for 74% of all the fractures. Ten patients underwent surgery, of whom 7 were diagnosed with a diaphragmatic injury intraoperatively after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery assessment of the pleural cavity. Two patients died due to severe injuries of other organs and the remaining 2 patients were managed conservatively. Conclusion: Our series of patients demonstrates a relationship between significant rib fractures and diaphragmatic injuries in trauma patients, and the diagnostic difficulties in identifying the condition. We found that the location of the rib fractures and the pattern of injury in patients with TDIs were much lower and posterolateral in the chest wall without a preference for laterality. We suggest using a thoracoscope in patients undergoing chest wall surgery post-trauma to aid in diagnosing this condition.