IS EARLY OSTEOSYNTHESIS SAFE IN MULTIPLE TRAUMA PATIENTS WITH SEVERE THORACIC TRAUMA AMD PULMONARY CONTUSION

The timing of osteosynthesis of major fractures in patients with multi ple injuries is still disputed. Recently questions have been raised as to the possible detrimental effects of this treatment on pulmonary fu nction in patients who have additional thoracic trauma. In this study the charts of 57 consecutive patients with multiple injuries including thoracic trauma were analyzed. Thirty patients without major fracture s were compared with 27 patients with major fractures treated by early osteosynthesis. Despite a significantly higher injury Severity Score (ISS) in the group with major fractures, there was no significant diff erence in pulmonary function between the two groups. We conclude that the presence of thoracic trauma should not be regarded as a contraindi cation for early surgical stabilization of major fractures.