Surgical Approaches for Rib Fracture Fixation

Abstract

Several surgical approaches have been described in the literature for rib fracture fixation in flail chest or unstable chest wall injuries. Rib fracture fixation is a relatively novel surgical procedure, and much of the knowledge on local anatomy and surgical approaches has been derived from the thoracic surgery literature on surgical approaches for other thoracic procedures. There is currently no available specific literature comparing various surgical approaches or fixation techniques for rib fracture fixation. Three common surgical approaches for rib fracture fixation have been described; the lateral thoracotomy (anterior or posterior), the posterior paramedian approach, and the inframammary approach. All rib fracture fixation procedures can be performed through one of these approaches either alone or in combination.