Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42853388›Full record

Trial reportEuropean journal of trauma and emergency surgery : official publication of the European Trauma Society2026

Measurement properties of pulmonary function measurement and patient-reported outcome measures in patients with multiple rib fracture without flail segment; validation study alongside the multicenter FixCon trial.

Maartje L Luttjeboer, Max R Van Diepen, Jonne T H Prins, Suzanne F M Van Wijck, Michael H J Verhofstad, Mathieu M E Wijffels, Esther M M Van Lieshout, FixCon study group

Abstract readMulticenter StudyValidation StudyRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in European journal of trauma and emergency surgery : official publication of the European Trauma Society, 2026. 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
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

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

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Maartje L LuttjeboerTrauma Research Unit Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Max R Van DiepenTrauma Research Unit Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Jonne T H PrinsTrauma Research Unit Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Suzanne F M Van WijckTrauma Research Unit Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Michael H J VerhofstadTrauma Research Unit Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Mathieu M E WijffelsTrauma Research Unit Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Esther M M Van LieshoutTrauma Research Unit Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. e.vanlieshout@erasmusmc.nl.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2597-7948
FixCon study group

Funding

OTC Foundation No. 2017-JVMWStichting Coolsingel No. 573ZonMw No. 852001921
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe reliability and validity of pulmonary function, pain and health related quality of life (HR-QoL) as outcome measures for patients with rib fractures, remain uncertain. Our objective was to evaluate measurement properties in patients with multiple rib fractures by comparing them with generic HR-QoL instruments (EuroQoL-5D-5L [EQ-5D-5L], Short Form-12 [SF-12]).

methodsA multicenter RCT in adults (n = 180) was performed. Spirometry was performed at 30 days, 3, 6, and 12 months after trauma. Patients completed five questions on pain, EQ-5D-5L, SF-12, and two anchor questions on improvement in pulmonary function and thoracic complaints since previous measurement. Reliability, construct validity, responsiveness and floor and ceiling effects were evaluated for all follow-up time-points.

resultsEQ-5D and SF-12 (sub)scales showed adequate internal consistency. Construct and longitudinal validity were adequate for all (sub)scales, except for construct validity of the SF-12 Physical Component Summary. Ceiling effects were present for all pain questions from 30 days onwards, for EQ-5D-5L utility score (US) from 3 months onwards. Responsiveness analysis indicated that spirometry values showed trivial (tidal volume), small (inspiratory capacity, FEV1), or moderate (FVC) degree of change from 30 days to 12 months. All five pain levels, EQ-5D-5L and SF-12 (sub)scales showed moderate to large degree of change form 30 days to 12 months.

conclusionsSpirometry and pain are valid instruments for monitoring functional recovery in patients after sustaining multiple rib fractures. Responsiveness was confirmed for pain and spirometry (FVC). EQ-5D-5L and SF-12 are valid, reliable, and responsive. Pain and HRQoL are therefore suitable instruments for measuring treatment effects over time.

Indexed as

Fractures, MultiplePatient Reported Outcome MeasuresQuality of LifeRib FracturesAdultAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPain MeasurementReproducibility of ResultsRespiratory Function TestsSpirometryMultiple rib fracturesPROMsQuality of lifeReliabilityValidity

Identifiers

PMID42853388

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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.