Download New Best Practices Guidelines for Managing Chest Wall Injuries

Coinciding with the Trauma Quality Improvement Program (TQIP) Annual Conference, the ACS has released new Best Practices Guidelines for the Management of Chest Wall Injuries. These guidelines provide healthcare professionals with comprehensive, evidence-based strategies to improve care for patients with rib and significant sternal fractures.

The new, downloadable guidelines address the full spectrum of care, from initial assessment and nonoperative management to indications and techniques to ensure patients are stable after trauma.

“Management of chest wall injuries has evolved dramatically, moving beyond the old paradigm of ‘they will heal on their own’ to a proactive, multidisciplinary approach that can significantly improve patient outcomes,” said Avery Nathens, MD, PhD, FACS, Medical Director of Trauma Quality Programs at the ACS. “These guidelines represent the latest evidence to help trauma teams effectively manage pain, prevent complications, and determine when surgical intervention is the best course of action.”

Key areas include:

• Surgical Stabilization of Rib Fractures
• Multimodal Pain Management
• Optimal Timing for Surgery
• Special Populations
• Postoperative and Rehabilitation Care

The guidelines were developed by a multidisciplinary panel of experts, including trauma surgeons, orthopaedic surgeons, thoracic surgeons, anesthesiologists, and allied health professionals with the publication endorsed by the Chest Wall Injury Society and the Orthopaedic Trauma Association.