[Interest of prolonged peridural anaesthesia in the treatment of thoracic injuries (author's transl)].

Prolonged peridural analgesia relieves the pain and thanks to immediate return of ventilatory function avoids most complications of poor prognosis in mobile sternum. After a historical and pharmacological survey, the authors describe a standard technic, the course and the necessary supervision. The study of 29 cases of mobile sternum of variable gravity, treated in this way, permitted the authors to determine the indications and contra-indications and the role of associated treatments: physiotherapy, surgical fixation, respiratory assistance. The rare failures may benefit from another therapeutic method.