Display options
Cite
Shelat VG, Eileen S, John L, et al. Chronic pain and its impact on quality of life following a traumatic rib fracture. Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg. 2012;38(4):451-5doi: 10.1007/s00068-012-0186-x.
Shelat, V. G., Eileen, S., John, L., Teo, L. T., Vijayan, A., & Chiu, M. T. (2012). Chronic pain and its impact on quality of life following a traumatic rib fracture. European journal of trauma and emergency surgery : official publication of the European Trauma Society, 38(4), 451-5. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00068-012-0186-x
Shelat, V G, et al. "Chronic pain and its impact on quality of life following a traumatic rib fracture." European journal of trauma and emergency surgery : official publication of the European Trauma Society vol. 38,4 (2012): 451-5. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00068-012-0186-x
Shelat VG, Eileen S, John L, Teo LT, Vijayan A, Chiu MT. Chronic pain and its impact on quality of life following a traumatic rib fracture. Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg. 2012 Aug;38(4):451-5. doi: 10.1007/s00068-012-0186-x. Epub 2012 Apr 11. PMID: 26816127.
Copy Download .nbib Format: NLM
Share it on

Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg. 2012 Aug;38(4):451-5. doi: 10.1007/s00068-012-0186-x. Epub 2012 Apr 11.

Chronic pain and its impact on quality of life following a traumatic rib fracture.

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

V G Shelat, S Eileen, L John, L T Teo, A Vijayan, M T Chiu

Affiliations

  1. Trauma Service, Department of General Surgery, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, 11, Jalan Tan Tock Seng, Singapore, 308433, Singapore. [email protected].
  2. Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
  3. Trauma Service, Department of General Surgery, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, 11, Jalan Tan Tock Seng, Singapore, 308433, Singapore.

PMID: 26816127 DOI: 10.1007/s00068-012-0186-x

Abstract

PURPOSE: Traumatic rib fractures account for 7-40 % of trauma admissions and most of them heal spontaneously and do not contribute to disability. The prevalence of chronic pain and its impact on quality of life following a traumatic rib fracture has not been studied adequately.

METHODS: A retrospective review of electronic medical records of all the traumatic rib fracture admissions from January 2007 to December 2008 was conducted. This was followed up with a brief telephonic survey of the following questions: (1) Do you have pain following the trauma? (2) If YES, how severe is your pain from a score of zero to ten? (3) Does the pain affect your life style? (4) Does the pain affect your work? (5) Do you need to take regular pain medications?

RESULTS: One hundred and two patients responded to the survey and 23 patients (22.5 %) complained of chronic persistent pain. In patients with pain, six patients (26 %) had chronic pain that required regular use of analgesics, eight patients (35 %) complained of impairment of work life, and three patients (13 %) complained of impairment of personal quality of life. Chronic pain was not related to age, number of ribs fractured, flail chest, hemothorax and/or pneumothorax, chest tube insertion, or Injury Severity Score (ISS).

CONCLUSION: This study confirms the high incidence of chronic pain after a traumatic rib fracture. While the majority of the patients can manage this pain without interference of their quality of life, a few do suffer from life style/work interference and may have to resort to regular analgesic usage.

Keywords: Chronic pain; Rib fracture; Thoracic trauma

References

  1. Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg. 2005 Dec;4(6):583-7 - PubMed
  2. J Trauma. 2000 Jun;48(6):1040-6; discussion 1046-7 - PubMed
  3. J Gen Intern Med. 2008 Jun;23(6):841-5 - PubMed
  4. J Trauma. 1994 Dec;37(6):975-9 - PubMed
  5. J Am Coll Surg. 2003 Apr;196(4):549-55 - PubMed
  6. South Med J. 2006 Apr;99(4):335-9 - PubMed
  7. J Trauma. 2003 Mar;54(3):478-85 - PubMed
  8. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2003 Mar;23(3):374-8 - PubMed
  9. Ann Surg. 1987 Aug;206(2):200-5 - PubMed
  10. Can Fam Physician. 2010 Mar;56(3):e117-24 - PubMed
  11. J Trauma. 2002 Apr;52(4):727-32; discussion 732 - PubMed
  12. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2001 Sep;20(3):496-501 - PubMed
  13. Med J Malaysia. 2010 Dec;65(4):304-6 - PubMed
  14. J Trauma. 2003 Jun;54(6):1058-63; discussion 1063-4 - PubMed

Publication Types