The Unstable Thoracic Cage Injury

Sponsor

BG Unfallklinik (Other)

Overall Status

Completed

CT.gov ID

NCT02514993

Collaborator

(none)

130

Enrollment

143

Duration (Months)

Study Details

Study Description

Brief Summary

Analysis of patient data and computed tomography scan of polytraumatized patients thoracic spine fractures
A concomitant sternal fracture was identified an indicator for an unstable thoracic spine fracture

Condition or Disease	Intervention/Treatment	Phase
Thoracic Spine Fracture Concomitant Sternal Fracture

Detailed Description

Previous studies stated, that sternal fractures can be regarded as an indicator for thoracic spine fractures and described the combined injury pattern of thoracic spine fracture and sternal fracture as "upper thoracic cage injury". But literature research is lacking data that in patients with a thoracic cage injury a highly unstable thoracic spine fracture can be expected.

In a large cohort of 130 patients with a thoracic spine fracture and concomitant sternal fracture the investigators analyzed the injury pattern and evaluated associated injuries, trauma mechanism, and clinical outcome.

The investigators could prove that in patients with a thoracic cage injury the concomitant sternal fracture may be regarded as an indicator for an unstable thoracic spine fracture, which requires surgical stabilization. Furthermore the analysis revealed that even a highly rotationally unstable type C fracture has to be expected, if sternal and thoracic spine fractures are located in the same segment.

Study Design

Study Type:

Observational

Actual Enrollment :

130 participants

Observational Model:

Case-Control

Time Perspective:

Retrospective

Official Title:

The Unstable Thoracic Cage Injury: The Concomitant Sternal Fracture Indicates a Severe Thoracic Spine Fracture

Study Start Date :

Jan 1, 2003

Actual Primary Completion Date :

Dec 1, 2013

Actual Study Completion Date :

Dec 1, 2014

Arms and Interventions

Arm	Intervention/Treatment
Study group Inclusion criteria for the study were (a) sternal fracture and concomitant thoracic spine fracture, (b) Injury Severity scale (ISS) ≥ 16, (c) age under 50 years, (d) presence of a whole body computed-tomography (CT-scan) performed at admission of the patient to the hospital.
Control group The inclusion criteria for the control group included: (a) Thoracic spine fracture without concomitant sternal fracture, (b) ISS ≥ 16, (c) age under 50 years, (d) presence of a whole body computed-tomography (CT-scan) performed at admission of the patient to the hospital.

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

Survival [1 year after trauma]
Patient survival after polytraumatization

Eligibility Criteria

Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study:

18 Years to 49 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study:

All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

Inclusion Criteria:

Sternal fracture and concomitant thoracic spine fracture
Injury Severity Scale ≥ 16
Age under 50 years
Presence of a whole body computed-tomography (CT-scan) performed at admission of the patient to the hospital