Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the epidemiology and evaluate the clinical significance of traumatic sternal fractures.
Methods: Patients age ≤18 years with sternal fractures in the National Trauma Database research datasets from 2007-2014 were identified. Patient demographics, injuries, procedures, and outcomes were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression.
Results: Three thousand one hundred sixty patients with sternal fracture were identified. Ninety percent of injuries occurred in patients between 12 and 18 years old. Median injury severity score (ISS) was 17 [9,29]. Exploratory thoracotomy was performed in 1%. Thirty-nine percent were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). On multivariate regression, predictors of ICU stay >1 day were increasing ISS, lack of the use of protective devices, decreasing Glasgow Coma Score (GCS), tachycardia, and pulmonary contusion. Median hospital length of stay was 4 [2, 9] days. In-hospital mortality was 8%. Predictors of mortality were lower GCS, increasing ISS, decreasing oxygen saturation, hypotension, and cardiac arrest. Use of protective devices and seat belts did not affect mortality.
Conclusion: Sternal fractures in patients increase in incidence with age, and poor outcomes are impacted by associated injuries and complications. The presence of a sternal fracture should trigger a careful diagnostic evaluation.
Level of evidence: III STUDY TYPE: Treatment Study.
Keywords: Blunt trauma; Pediatric trauma; Sternal fracture.
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