Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41307666›Full record

SynthesisEuropean journal of trauma and emergency surgery : official publication of the European Trauma Society2025

Comparison of flail and multiple simple rib fracture patterns among patients included in rib fracture studies; A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Maartje L Luttjeboer, Esther M M Van Lieshout, Fredric M Pieracci, Zachary M Bauman, Evert A Eriksson, Joseph D Forrester, Michael H J Verhofstad, Mathieu M E Wijffels

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-AnalysisComparative Study
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In one paragraph

Synthesis in European journal of trauma and emergency surgery : official publication of the European Trauma Society, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Maartje L LuttjeboerTrauma Research Unit, Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Esther M M Van LieshoutTrauma Research Unit, Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Fredric M PieracciDepartment of Surgery, Denver Health Medical Center, Denver, CO, USA.
Zachary M BaumanDepartment of Surgery, Division of Trauma, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
Evert A ErikssonDepartment of Surgery, Division of Trauma, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA.
Joseph D ForresterDepartment of Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
Michael H J VerhofstadTrauma Research Unit, Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Mathieu M E WijffelsTrauma Research Unit, Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. m.wijffels@erasmusmc.nl.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeComparing baseline characteristics of patients with flail versus multiple simple rib fracture patterns, hypothesizing greater injury severity in the flail group.

methodsA systematic review of Cochrane Central, Embase, Medline Ovid, and Web of Science identified 66 cohorts from 1,799 records. Random effects models were used, with publication bias assessed via funnel plots. Primary outcome was injury severity score (ISS); secondary outcomes included number and level of fractured ribs and associated injuries.

resultsPatients with flail fractures had significantly higher ISS (mean 27 vs 20; p < 0.05), more fractured ribs (mean 7 vs 4; p < 0.05), and more frequent pulmonary contusion (73 vs 42%), hemothorax (45 vs 20%), and in-hospital mortality (10 vs 2%; p < 0.05).

conclusionFlail chest fracture patterns indicate more severe trauma and higher complication rates. Studies should report outcomes for flail and multiple simple rib fracture patterns separately when evaluating rib fracture treatments.

Indexed as

Flail ChestFractures, MultipleRib FracturesHospital MortalityHumansInjury Severity ScoreFlail chest fracture patternISSMultiple simple rib fracturesRib fracture outcomeStratification

Identifiers

PMID41307666

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.