Sternal Fractures in Blunt Chest Trauma: Retrospective Analysis of 330 Cases

Objective: To analyse the range of injuries associated with sternal fracture (SF) and their clinical features and outcomes. Study Design: Observational study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey, from July 2010 to July 2020. Methodology: Sternal fractures were considered in 330 patients with blunt trauma during the study period. They were categorised according to the Johnson and Branfoot classification and the Arbeitsgemeinschaft fur Osteosynthesefragen / Orthopaedic Trauma Association classification. Demographic data were collected, including age, gender, mechanism of injury, associated injuries, and the length of hospital stay. Results: During the 10-year study period, a total of 4024 thoracic trauma patients were admitted to the emergency department. Of these, 330 (8.2%) had a sternal fracture. The median age of the patients was 41 (8-90) years, and 72.7% were male. Isolated sternal fractures occurred in 93 patients (28.2%). An additional thoracic injury was observed in 74 patients (22.4%) included in the study, and an accompanying extrathoracic injury was observed in 34 patients (10.3%). In 129 patients (39.1%), both thoracic and extrathoracic pathologies were detected, in addition to SF. The mortality rate among patients with isolated sternal fracture was 1.1%; the mortality rate among patients with sternal fracture accompanied by additional pathologies was 6.6%. Conclusion: Sternal fractures are frequently associated with other injuries. Although isolated sternal fracture has a good prognosis, careful evaluation and clinical observation are essential for additional injuries.