Morbidity from Rib Fractures Increases After Age 45

Abstract

Patients over the age of 45 with more than four rib fractures are more severely injured and at increased risk of adverse outcomes. Efforts to decrease rib fracture morbidity should focus not only on elderly patients but those as young as 45 years. Based on these data we have initiated a multidisciplinary clinical pathway focusing on patients 45 years and older who have more than four rib fractures.