ABSTRACT

Although the sternal fractures (SF) are seen rare, it is an important cause of mortality and morbidity because it can accompany mediastinal traumas. In this study we aimed to determine the etiological causes of sternal fractures due to blunt traumas and to analyze the factors, that effect on prognosis.

We analyzed the 55 patients who underwent treatment for sternal fracture due to blunt trauma between 2003 and 2010.

There were 40 male (72.7%) and 15 female (27.3%) patients. The mean age was 38.32±11.88 (19-64). The most common etiological cause was traffic accidents. However, there were only 4 patients diagnosed as sternal fracture caused by safety seat belts. The second most common cause of trauma was assaults. 18 (32.7%) patients had simple sternal fracture, whereas 37 (67.3%) patients had complicated SF. Only 6 of the 18 patients with simple sternal fracture were hospitalized. All of the patients with concomitant traumatic pathology were hospitalized. Pneumothorax was diagnosed in 4 patients and hemo-pneumothorax in 6; all of the patients were treated with tube thoracostomy. The duration of hospital stay was statistically significant in patients with simple SFs or with concomitant thoracic pathologies then the patients who had concomitant head traumas and/or extremity fractures (p<0.05).

Simple sternal fractures can be considered as benign entity and treated as outpatients. However sternal fractures along with general body traumas, indicate the severity of the trauma and requires a careful follow up and management.

Keywords: Sternal fracture, blunt trauma, thoracic traumas