Incidence and influence factors of venous thromboembolism in traumatic rib fracture patient: a multicenter study

Background This study aimed to determine the incidence and influencing factors of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with traumatic rib fractures. Methods The retrospective study analyzed medical records of patients with traumatic rib fractures from 33 hospitals. Results The overall incidence of VTE in hospitalized patients with traumatic rib fractures was 8.1%. Patients with isolated traumatic rib fractures had a significantly lower incidence of VTE (4.4%) compared to patients with rib fractures combined with other injuries (12.0%). Multivariate analysis identified the number of rib fractures as an independent risk factor for thrombosis. Surgical stabilization of isolated rib fractures involving three or more ribs was associated with a lower VTE incidence compared to conservative treatment. Conclusions Patients with rib fractures have a higher incidence of VTE, positively correlated with the number of rib fractures. However, the occurrence of thrombosis is relatively low in isolated rib fractures. Targeted thromboprophylaxis strategies should be implemented for these patients, and surgical stabilization of rib fractures may be beneficial in reducing the risk of VTE.