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Journal of The Korean Society of Emergency Medicine 2005;16(5): 562-565. |
| The Correlation of Abdominal Organ Injury In Rib Fracture Patients |
| Jung Ho Kim, Byung Soo Do, Sam Beom Lee, Tae Eun Jung |
1Department of Emergency Medicine, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Daegu, Korea. bsdo@med.yu.ac.kr
2Department of Thorax and Cardiovascular Surgery, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Daegu, Korea. |
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| ABSTRACT |
PURPOSE:
Rib fracture is a common injury seen in traumatized patients. It can be frequently correlated with concomitant AOI (abdominal organ injury). This study was designed to assess the factors increasing the risk of concomitant AOI.
METHOD: We reviewed retrospectively the medical charts of 166 rib-fracture blunt-trauma patients. Data were collected on age, sex, the vectors of injury, the rib-fracture location, the presence of a pneumothorax or a hemothorax, and the presence injury to the abdominal organs.
RESULT: The total number of AOI cases correlated with rib fractures was 36 (21.7%). The most frequently injured organ was the liver (13 cases). The probability of AOI increased with the presence of any low-rib fracture. Also, the probability of splenic injury increased with the presence of left-sided rib fracture. There was no difference in the incidence of AOI-correlated pneumo- or hemothorax.
CONCLUSION:
Low-rib fracture increases the risk of AOI as were taught traditionally. The most commonly injured organ was the liver. Injury to the spleen was correlated with the location of the fracture, especially the left side. |
| Key words:
Rib fracture, Abdominal injury |
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