Risk Factors of Battle et al for Mortality Following Blunt Chest Wall Trauma

 

Patient selection: blunt trauma to the chest wall

 

Risk factors for mortality:

(1) age >= 65 years

(2) >= 3 rib fractures

(3) pre-existing cardiopulmonary disease (congestive heart failure, etc or other significant comorbid condition

(4) pneumonia following the injury

 

where:

• The odds ratios for the first 3 risk factors was about 2. The OR for pneumonia was 5.2.

• The presence of significant trauma elsewhere would increase the risk.

 

Mortality increased with the number of risk factors.