The Advantages of Adding Rib Fixations during VATS for Retained Hemothorax in Serious Blunt Chest Trauma - A Prospective Cohort Study.

•Early VATS to manage retained hemothorax with rib fixation may treat both the pleural cavity and the chest wall completely.•Rib fixation provides a stable chest wall structure that also reduces pain.•Adding rib fixation during VATS in the management of retained hemothorax can contribute to shorten whole treatment courses.