Table 2 Lung function of patients with flail chest (n = 16) at 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery
From: Surgical treatment of multiple rib fractures and flail chest in trauma: a one-year follow-up study
Lung Function | 3 months % Predicted | 6 months % Predicted | Δ 3–6 months % Predicted | Δ 3–6 months P-value | 12 months % Predicted | Δ 3–12 months % Predicted | Δ 3–12 months P-value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FVC (L) | 86.2 ± 19.4 | 93.1 ± 20.7 | 6.9 ± 5.8 | p = 0.0002 | 105.9 ± 17.5 | 19.8 ± 14.1 | p = 0.0002 |
FEV1 (L) | 79.4 ± 22.7 | 81.8 ± 25.3 | 2.3 ± 7.5 | p = 0.100 | 80.4 ± 29.6 | 0.95 ± 31.9 | p = 0.74 |
PEF (L/min) | 81.4 ± 19.5 | 83.7 ± 24.3 | 2.3 ± 16.5 | p = 0.50 | 109.9 ± 24.8 | 28.5 ± 20.4 | p < 0.0001 |