Short Communication
Vijay Kumar AG
Abstract
Introduction: Rib fractures are the most common injury sustained following blunt chest trauma, accounting for more than half of thoracic injuries from non-penetrating trauma. Approximately 10% of all patients admitted after blunt chest trauma have one or more rib fractures. In United States they account for 10% of traumatic injuries and 14% of all chest wall injuries. The incidence of flail chest is 10% to 15% of severe chest traumas. Material and Methods: In this retrospective study, fatal cases of thoracic trauma autopsied during the period 1st January 2009 to 31st December 2010 were analyzed at the Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Adichunchanagiri Institute of Medical Sciences, Mandya District, and Karnataka, India. Results: In the present study, 31.3% of victims belong to the 3rd decade of life. Women were less involved than men with ratio of 1: 1.5. The mortality rate was 20.18%. The victims in most of the cases sustained non displaced rib fractures followed by displaced fractures. 5th rib fracture were seen in eight cases followed by 4th and 6th ribs fracture were seen in seven cases.