Risk factors affecting pulmonary complications in elderly patients with isolated rib fractures

Highlight box

Key findings

• Traumatic mechanisms and fracture patterns were related to pulmonary complications in elderly patients with isolated rib fractures.

• No significant relationship was found between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, age, and pulmonary complications in elderly patients with isolated rib fractures.

What is known and what is new?

• There was a possible relationship between rib fracture patterns and trauma mechanisms among patients with rib fractures.

• This study investigated the impact of trauma mechanisms and fracture patterns on the occurrence of pulmonary complications in elderly patients with isolated rib fractures.

What is the implication, and what should change now?

• Elderly patients who experience falls and exhibit radiographic findings of displaced or multiple rib fractures are at an increased risk of developing pulmonary complications. Therefore, it is recommended that elderly patients presenting with isolated rib fractures due to falls, especially when imaging indicates multiple fractures or displacement, be hospitalized and have timely imaging reviews.

Publication: Cheng R, Yang M, Zhang Y, Cho WC, Ma D, Chen D, Zhu Y, Shen J. Risk factors affecting pulmonary complications in elderly patients with isolated rib fractures. J Thorac Dis 2025;17(2):542-550. doi: 10.21037/jtd-24-1323