Abstract
Surgical stabilization of flail chest and other unstable injuries of the thoracic wall is a relatively new treatment procedure. The indications for rib osteosynthesis include, apart from flail chest fractures of at least three ribs, also a defect or chest wall deformities, dislocated rib fractures with injury of the lungs, open rib fractures, impaired fracture healing and stabilization of fractures in patients with emergency thoracotomy performed due to blunt and penetrating chest injuries.
The aim of this article is to present an overview of deve-lopment of plate stabilization of the chest wall, and to inform the reader about the current trends in indications and timing of this procedure. Material and results: The historical summary of chest wall stabilization using plate fixation also mentions important milestones in the development of this technique.
The subsequent overview summarizes advantages of the technique, together with new know-ledge in the management of blunt chest trauma. Conclusion: The area of chest wall stabilization remains a topical issue.
Although this technique is not considered a standard procedure in the management of blunt chest trauma, it becomes of great interest for trauma surgeons and manufacturers of implants. New guidelines define a broader use of surgical chest stabilization, and advocate an early intervention in indicated cases.