UMEM Educational Pearls

Category: Trauma

Title: Predicting 30 day readmission in rib fracture patients

Keywords: Rib Fractures, re-admission, 30 day (PubMed Search)

Posted: 12/9/2022 by Robert Flint, MD (Emailed: 12/25/2022) (Updated: 3/29/2024)
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In this retrospective chart review, 3720 admitted trauma patients with rib fractures were looked at for 30 day readmission. 206 patients in the group were readmitted within 30 days.

The authors concluded:

In patients with traumatic rib fractures, those with anticoagulant use, those who actively smoke, those with a psychiatric diagnosis, or those with associated abdominal injuries are at the highest risk of re-hospitalization following discharge. 

 

While this study is retrospective and looks at patients that were sick enough to be admitted, it is a good reminder that patients with rib fractures can have high morbidity and mortality and it gives us certain patient populations in which to show extra concern.

References

Hospital readmission after blunt traumatic rib fractures

Marthy, Andrew G. MD; Mounsey, Molly MSIV; Ata, Ashar MBBS, MPH, PhD; Stain, Steven C. MD, FACS; Tafen, Marcel MD, FACS

Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery: December 2022 - Volume 93 - Issue 6 - p 793-799    doi: 10.1097/TA.0000000000003558