Successful treatment of flail chest with chondrosternal disruption and traumatic parasternal lung hernia with titanium rib bridges

BMJ Case Rep. 2013 Apr 22:2013:bcr2013008887. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2013-008887.

Abstract

The surgical principles for the treatment of flail chest have yet to be fully established. Furthermore, the relationship between flail chest and lung hernias is unclear. We report here a rare case of chondrosternal traumatic disruption and lung hernia that was treated with a novel technique using titanium rib bridges and clips, which successfully reduced the hernia defect and provided stability to the chest wall. This procedure was beneficial in minimising the patient's ventilation time and time away from work.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Accidents, Traffic
  • Adult
  • Flail Chest / diagnostic imaging
  • Flail Chest / etiology
  • Flail Chest / surgery*
  • Hernia / diagnostic imaging
  • Hernia / etiology
  • Herniorrhaphy / methods*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Prostheses and Implants*
  • Ribs / diagnostic imaging
  • Ribs / injuries
  • Ribs / surgery
  • Thoracic Wall / diagnostic imaging
  • Thoracic Wall / injuries
  • Thoracic Wall / surgery*
  • Titanium
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Titanium