No difference in mortality between level I and level II trauma centers performing surgical stabilization of rib fracture.

BACKGROUND

A comparison of outcomes between Level I (LI) and Level II (LII) Trauma Centers (TCs) performing surgical stabilization of rib fracture (SSRF) has not been well described. We sought to compare risk of mortality for patients undergoing SSRF between LI and LII TCs.

METHODS

The Trauma Quality Improvement Program was queried for patients presenting with rib fracture to LI or LII TCs from 2010 to 2015. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed.

RESULTS

14,046 (7.1%) of 199,020 patients with rib fractures underwent SSRF. SSRF increased from 1304 in 2010 to 3489 in 2015: a geometric mean annual increase of 22%. LI TCs demonstrated a mortality incidence of 1.6% while LII TCs demonstrated a mortality incidence of 1.5% (p > 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in risk of mortality after SSRF between LI and LII TCs (odds ratio 1.12, confidence interval 0.79-1.59, p-value 0.529).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients undergoing SSRF at LI and LII TCs have no significant difference in risk of mortality. Additionally, there is an annually growing trend across all centers in SSRF performed both for flail and non-flail segments.