Are We Underestimating the Morbidity of Single Rib Fractures?

Clinical prediction models for the management of blunt chest trauma in the emergency department: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

The aim of this systematic review was to investigate how clinical prediction models compare in terms of their methodological development, validation, and predictive capabilities, for patients with blunt chest trauma presenting to the Emergency Department.

METHODS

A systematic review was conducted across databases from 1st Jan 2000 until 1st April 2024. Studies were categorised into three types of multivariable prediction research and data extracted regarding methodological issues and the predictive capabilities of each model. Risk of bias and applicability were assessed.

RESULTS

41 studies were included that discussed 22 different models. The most commonly observed study design was a single-centre, retrospective, chart review. The most widely externally validated clinical prediction models with moderate to good discrimination were the Thoracic Trauma Severity Score and the STUMBL Score.

DISCUSSION

This review demonstrates that the predictive ability of some of the existing clinical prediction models is acceptable, but high risk of bias and lack of subsequent external validation limits the extensive application of the models. The Thoracic Trauma Severity Score and STUMBL Score demonstrate better predictive accuracy in both development and external validation studies than the other models, but require recalibration and / or update and evaluation of their clinical and cost effectiveness.

REVIEW REGISTRATION

PROSPERO database ( https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=351638 ).

Deep learning for acute rib fracture detection in CT data: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

To review studies on deep learning (DL) models for classification, detection, and segmentation of rib fractures in CT data, to determine their risk of bias (ROB), and to analyse the performance of acute rib fracture detection models.

METHODS

Research articles written in English were retrieved from PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science in April 2023. A study was only included if a DL model was used to classify, detect, or segment rib fractures, and only if the model was trained with CT data from humans. For the ROB assessment, the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies tool was used. The performance of acute rib fracture detection models was meta-analysed with forest plots.

RESULTS

A total of 27 studies were selected. About 75% of the studies have ROB by not reporting the patient selection criteria, including control patients or using 5-mm slice thickness CT scans. The sensitivity, precision, and F1-score of the subgroup of low ROB studies were 89.60% (95%CI, 86.31%-92.90%), 84.89% (95%CI, 81.59%-88.18%), and 86.66% (95%CI, 84.62%-88.71%), respectively. The ROB subgroup differences test for the F1-score led to a p-value below 0.1.

CONCLUSION

ROB in studies mostly stems from an inappropriate patient and data selection. The studies with low ROB have better F1-score in acute rib fracture detection using DL models.

ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE

This systematic review will be a reference to the taxonomy of the current status of rib fracture detection with DL models, and upcoming studies will benefit from our data extraction, our ROB assessment, and our meta-analysis.

Investigating the link between frailty and outcomes in geriatric patients with isolated rib fractures

Background

Studies have shown an increased risk of morbidity in elderly patients suffering rib fractures from blunt trauma. The association between frailty and rib fractures on adverse outcomes is still ill-defined. In the current investigation, we sought to delineate the association between frailty, measured using the Orthopedic Frailty Score (OFS), and outcomes in geriatric patients with isolated rib fractures.

Methods

All geriatric (aged 65 years or older) patients registered in the 2013-2019 Trauma Quality Improvement database with a conservatively managed isolated rib fracture were considered for inclusion. An isolated rib fracture was defined as the presence of ≥1 rib fracture, a thorax Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) between 1 and 5, an AIS ≤1 in all other regions, as well as the absence of pneumothorax, hemothorax, or pulmonary contusion. Based on patients' OFS, patients were classified as non-frail (OFS 0), pre-frail (OFS 1), or frail (OFS ≥2). The prevalence ratio (PR) of composite complications, in-hospital mortality, failure-to-rescue (FTR), and intensive care unit (ICU) admission between the OFS groups was determined using Poisson regression models to adjust for potential confounding.

Results

A total of 65 375 patients met the study's inclusion criteria of whom 60% were non-frail, 29% were pre-frail, and 11% were frail. There was a stepwise increased risk of complications, in-hospital mortality, and FTR from non-frail to pre-frail and frail. Compared with non-frail patients, frail patients exhibited a 87% increased risk of in-hospital mortality [adjusted PR (95% CI): 1.87 (1.52-2.31), p<0.001], a 44% increased risk of complications [adjusted PR (95% CI): 1.44 (1.23-1.67), p<0.001], a doubling in the risk of FTR [adjusted PR (95% CI): 2.08 (1.45-2.98), p<0.001], and a 17% increased risk of ICU admission [adjusted PR (95% CI): 1.17 (1.11-1.23), p<0.001].

Conclusion

There is a strong association between frailty, measured using the OFS, and adverse outcomes in geriatric patients managed conservatively for rib fractures.

Associations Between Psychiatric Diagnoses on Length of Stay and Mortality After Rib Fracture: A Retrospective Analysis

INTRODUCTION

Concurrent psychiatric diagnoses adversely impact outcomes in surgical patients, but their relationship to patients with rib fracture after trauma is less understood. We hypothesized that psychiatric comorbidity would be associated with increases in hospital length of stay (LOS) and mortality risk after rib fracture.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The 2017 National Inpatient Sample was queried for adult patients who were admitted with rib fracture after trauma. Mental health disorders were categorized into 34 psychiatric diagnosis groups (PDGs) using clinical classifications software refined for International Classification of Diseases-10. Outcomes of interest were LOS and mortality. Bivariable analysis determined associations between PDGs, patient demographics, hospital characteristics, and outcomes. Logistic regression was performed to identify adjusted effects on mortality, and linear regression was performed to identify effects on LOS.

RESULTS

Of 32,801 patients, median age was 61 y (IQR 46-76), and median LOS was 5 d (IQR 3-9). No PDGs were associated with increased odds of mortality. Concurrent diagnosis of schizophrenia spectrum (Coeff. 3.5, 95% CI 2.7-4.4, P < 0.001) or trauma- or stressor-related (Coeff. 1.6, 95% CI 0.9-2.5, P < 0.001) disorders demonstrated the greatest association with prolonged LOS. Increased odds of death and prolonged hospital stay were also associated with male sex, non-White patient race, and surgery occurring at urban and public hospitals.

CONCLUSIONS

Psychiatric comorbidities are associated with death after rib fracture but are associated with increased LOS. These findings may help promote multidisciplinary patient management in trauma.