Comparison of patients with multiple rib fractures based on management with standard medical management, rib fixation, or ON-Q catheter for continuous intercostal nerve blockade
| ON-Q catheter without rib fixation (n=38) | Rib fixation (n=13) | Standard medical management (n=93) | P value | |
| Age | 56.0±18.94 | 54.9±17.24 | 56.9±18.69 | 0.92 |
| Number of rib fractures | 9.0±3.78 | 11.2±3.14 | 6.4±4.00* | <0.001 |
| Number of flail segments | 1.2±2.25 | 4.5±3.28* | 0.8±1.69 | <0.001 |
| 30-day hospital-free days | 16.7±6.51 | 11.5±7.15 | 13.4±9.89 | 0.09 |
| 90-day hospital-free days | 75.1±13.83 | 70.2±9.94 | 63.4±28.46 | 0.04 |
| ICU-free days | 4.7±3.83 | 5.6±3.62 | 6.0±5.69 | 0.44 |
| Ventilator-free days | 8.9±4.34 | 11.5±5.13 | 9.7±8.22 | 0.51 |
| Unplanned intubation (%) | 2 (5.3) | 0 | 6 (6.5) | 0.63 |
| Failed extubation (%) | 3 (7.9) | 3 (23.1) | 8 (8.6) | 0.23 |
| Required tracheostomy (%) | 2 (5.3) | 3 (23.1) | 16 (17.2) | 0.14 |
| Pneumonia (%) | 2 (5.3) | 1 (7.7) | 15 (16.1) | 0.20 |
| Hospital mortality (%) | 1 (2.6) | 0 | 13 (14.0) | 0.06 |
| Rib fracture complication† (%) | 6 (15.8) | 5 (38.5) | 30 (32.3) | 0.12 |
Results shown as mean±SD unless otherwise noted.
Estimates from Pearson’s χ2 and analysis of variance for categorical and continuous variables, respectively.
*P≤0.05.
†Either unplanned intubation, failed extubation, pneumonia, tracheostomy requirement, or hospital mortality.
ICU, intensive care unit.