Complete Video-assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery for Rib Fractures: A Series of 35 Cases.

Abstract Background Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for internal fixation of rib fracture is a promising approach for treating rib fractures and flail chest. Currently, the standard practice is to make one or several incisions on the chest wall, which will inevitably aggravate the original trauma. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the data of patients with rib fractures who were treated with memory alloy for internal fixation by complete VATS using a thoracoscopic transthoracic memory alloy rib coaptation board and an implantation tool through the clip applier method or the puncture, traction and suspension method at our hospital from October 2016 to June 2019. Results There were 35 patients, of whom 12 had traumatic flail chest injury, and 23 had simple multiple rib fractures. Of the 23 patients with multiple rib fractures, 9 had fracture ends in the scapular or paravertebral region, and 14 had fracture ends located in the anterior or lateral chest walls. All surgeries were performed with complete VATS, and it showed quick recovery and good thoracic appearance and function, with no complications for all patients. Follow-up for 6-24 months revealed no detachment of the internal fixation device. Conclusions Internal memory alloy fixation with complete VATS for the treatment of rib fractures is a simple and minimally invasive method, which enables fixing fractured ribs internally while treating thoracic trauma with a thoracoscope.