The Role of the General Surgeon in Thoracic Trauma: A Single-Center Experience
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.34635/rpc.1126Keywords:
Pain Clinics, Rib Fractures/complications, Surgeons, Thoracic Injuries, Wounds and Injuries/complicationsAbstract
Introduction: Thoracic trauma is a frequent cause of traumatic injury, associated with high morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to characterize patients admitted with thoracic trauma to a General Surgery Service of a level II hospital, review current admission and referral criteria, and propose an action protocol that ensures the optimization of the care provided.
Methods: A retrospective observational analysis was conducted between January 2021 and December 2023, including all patients admitted to the General Surgery Department of ULSEDV with a diagnosis of thoracic trauma, isolated or in the context of multiple trauma, with a total of 465 patients.
Results: Among hospitalized patients, 78.5% met at least one severity criteria, and 72.7% developed trauma-related complications— most commonly pneumothorax and/or hemothorax. None of the 35 patients admitted only for three or more rib fractures, nor the 18 with isolated sternal fractures, experienced in-hospital morbidity. The median length of stay was 4 days, with 9.9% staying longer than 10 days. Patients requiring non-conventional analgesia had longer hospitalizations—over 10 days in 55% of cases.
Conclusion: This study identified admission criteria with limited clinical value and highlighted the importance of early collaboration with the Acute Pain Unit in cases of uncontrolled pain. Optimizing these processes can improve inpatient care efficiency, reduce healthcare costs, and ensure more patient-centered management.
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