Table 1

Characteristics of patients aged ≥50 years diagnosed with delayed progression of a hemothorax after rib fractures at two institutions

n=14
Patient characteristics
Age, mean (SD), years72.4 (4.0)
Male, n (%)12 (86)
Body mass index, mean (SD), kg/m226.8 (1.3)
Charlson Comorbidity Index, mean (SD)3.3 (1.6)
Medication use within 7 days prior to injury, n (%)
 ASA4 (29)
 Other antiplatelet1 (7)
 Anticoagulant1 (7)
Injury characteristics
Mechanism of injury, n (%)
 Ground-level fall6 (43)
 Fall from height3 (21)
 Motor vehicle crash2 (14)
 Bicycle crash2 (14)
 Motorcycle crash1 (7)
Injury Severity Score, mean (SD)13.3 (7.2)
Number of rib fractures, mean (SD)6.1 (2.6)
Underlying lung injury*, n (%)6 (43)
Initial chest imaging, n (%)
 No hemothorax9 (64)
 Scant pleural effusion5 (36)
CWIS taxonomy characterization of rib fractures
Flail chest, n (%)4 (29)
≥2 consecutive fractures, n (%)14 (100)
 Number of consecutive fractures, mean (SD)5.6 (2.5)
Anterior fractures, n (%)4 (29)
Posterolateral fractures, n (%)14 (100)
Displaced/offset fracture, n (%)14 (100)
 Number of displaced/offset fractures, mean (SD)3.5 (1.9)
Wedge or complex fractures, n (%)7 (50)
Interventions for delayed hemothorax
Tube thoracostomy, n (%)14 (100)
Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, n (%)5 (76)
Thoracotomy, n (%)1 (17)
Hospitalization characteristics
Single admission (n=6)
 Hospital LOS, mean (SD), days18.5 (3.0)
 Time to delayed hemothorax diagnosis, mean (range), days5.3 (3–8)
Readmitted (n=8)
 Initial hospitalization LOS, mean (SD), days6.3 (1.6)
 Readmission LOS, mean (SD), days6.9 (1.0)
 Time to delayed hemothorax diagnosis, mean (range), days9.3 (2–20)

  • *Lung injury comprised pulmonary laceration, contusion, or pneumothorax seen on CT.

  • ASA, acetylsalicylic acid; CWIS, Chest Wall Injury Society; LOS, length of stay.