Author/Editor		Kralj, Eduard; Podbregar, Matej; Kejžar, Nataša; Balažic, Jože
Title		Frequency and number of resuscitation related rib and sternum fractures are higher than generally considered
Type		članek
Vol. and No.		, št. Vol. 93
Publication year		2015
Volume		str. 136-141
ISSN		0300-9572 - Resuscitation
Language		eng
Abstract		Aim of the study This study aimed to establish the incidence, number and location of CPR-related skeletal chest injuries (SCI) and to investigate the influence of age, gender, changes in resuscitation guidelines and technique of resuscitation. Methods We analysed SCI in 2148 patients who had undergone resuscitation for non-traumatic cardiac arrest, as shown by autopsies performed at the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Ljubljana in the period 2004%2013. Results External cardiac massage caused SCI in 86% of males and in 91% of females; sternum fractures occurred in 59% of males and 79% of females, rib fractures in 77% of males and 85% of females and sternocostal separations in 33% of males and 12% of females. The average number of all SCI per person was thus almost the same in males and females: 10.95 vs. 10.96. The percentage of patients injured and the number of SCI increased with age. Changes in resuscitation guidelines were also identified as a factor contributing to the incidence and number of SCI. No adverse effect of the use of LUCAS was found. Conclusion It is generally considered that at least 1/3 of resuscitated patients sustain rib fractures and at least 1/5 sustains sternum fractures. However, our study showed that these injuries are much more frequent and that increased compression rate and depth cause more SCI. Since in the period 2011%2013 accompanying severe injuries occurred in only 1.85% of cases, the resuscitation technique has not yet jeopardised patient's safety, but further close monitoring is needed.
Keywords		chest injuries rib and sternum fractures resuscitation poškodbe prsnega koša oživljanje zlom reber in prsnice