Evaluation of patients with traumatic vertebral fractures and accompanying rib fractures in terms of complication development and need for surgery.

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to evaluate patients with traumatic vertebral fractures and accompanying rib fractures in terms of complication development and need for surgery.

METHODS

Between January 2019 and September 2022, a total of 173 patients (138 males, 35 females; mean age: 53.0±18.5 years; range, 17 to 95 years) who had vertebral and accompanying rib fractures due to blunt and penetrating trauma were retrospectively examined. The patients were divided into three groups: upper cervical (n=8), lower cervical (n=31), and thoracolumbar (n=134). Among the groups, trauma mechanisms, rib fracture numbers, accompanying thoracic pathologies, complication developments, and need for surgery were compared.

RESULTS

There was a significant difference between men and women in terms of trauma mechanisms (p=0.001). The mean number of accompanying rib fractures was 5.03±3.19. Number of accompanying rib fractures was higher in patients who developed complications compared to those who did not develop complications (p=0.007). Accompanying hemothorax was significantly higher in patients with upper cervical vertebral fractures (p=0.019). Need for spinal surgery to be significantly higher in patients with upper cervical vertebral fractures (p<0.01). Development of complications was higher in patients with burst fracture than in those without (p=0.004). There was a significantly higher need for spinal surgery in patients with burst fractures and lamina fractures (p<0.001 for both).

CONCLUSION

Identification of risk groups is critical for the management of trauma patients. The type and level of vertebral fractures are related to the presence of hemothorax, the development of complications, and the need for surgery.