Long-term quality of life and chronic pain after surgical vs. non-operative treatment of rib fractures: systematic review and meta-analysis - Summary - MDSpire
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Long-term quality of life and chronic pain after surgical vs. non-operative treatment of rib fractures: systematic review and meta-analysis
To evaluate long-term health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and chronic chest wall pain specifically in adults with traumatic rib fractures after surgical stabilization of rib fractures (SSRF) compared to non-operative management.
Key Findings:
No significant difference in long-term HRQoL between SSRF and non-operative groups (SMD 0.10, 95% CI −0.38 to 0.57, p = 0.69).
Higher risk of chronic pain after SSRF compared to non-operative management (RR 1.28, 95% CI 1.03–1.58, p = 0.03).
Tracheostomy rates did not differ significantly between groups.
Interpretation:
SSRF does not provide a long-term HRQoL benefit and may lead to increased chronic chest wall pain compared to non-operative management, raising concerns about its overall effectiveness.
Limitations:
Heterogeneity in study designs and patient selection.
Variability in HRQoL instruments and pain definitions across studies.
Limited number of studies reporting long-term outcomes.
Potential publication bias affecting the results.
Conclusion:
SSRF lacks demonstrated long-term benefits for HRQoL and may be associated with more chronic pain than non-operative treatment; further prospective studies with standardized long-term assessments are needed.
Swedish registry analysis linked surgical treatment with better patient-reported function in comminuted intra-articular distal radius fractures, while other fracture patterns showed limited benefit.
