Nuss procedure for surgical stabilization of flail chest with horizontal sternal body fracture and multiple bilateral rib fractures

Flail chest is a life-threatening situation that paradoxical movement of the thoracic cage was caused by multiply fractured ribs in two different planes, or a sternal fracture, or a combination of the two. The methods to achieve stability of the chest wall are controversy between surgical fixation and mechanical ventilation. We report a case of a 33-year-old man who fell from a high place with fail chest due to multiple rib fractures bilaterally and horizontal sternal fracture. The conventional surgical stabilization using metal plates by access to the front of the sternum could not provide stability of the flail segment because the fracture surface was obliquely upward and there were multiple bilateral rib fractures adjacent the sternum. The Nuss procedure was performed for supporting the flail segment from the back. Flail chest was resolved immediately after the surgery. The patient was weaned from the mechanical ventilation on third postoperative day successfully and was ultimately discharged without any complications.