J Korean Soc Radiol.  2015 May;72(5):305-312. 10.3348/jksr.2015.72.5.305.

Traumatic Sternal Fracture: Incidence, Causes, and CT Features

• Kim HW
• Kim YT
• Jou SS
• Han JK
• Bae WK

• KMID: 1793885
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/jksr.2015.72.5.305

Abstract

PURPOSE
To evaluate the incidence of sternal fracture due to trauma, the CT features of sternal fractures, and the hospitalization period.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The medical records and CT images of 755 patients who suffered trauma from January 2012 to August 2013 were analyzed retrospectively. We compared the incidence of sternal fracture due to various traumatic causes. We evaluated the location and shape of the sternal fracture on CT scans and the relationship between a sternal fracture and the hospitalization period.
RESULTS
The incidence of sternal fracture was 9.27% (70/755) in all patients; 11.7% (53/453) due to a traffic accident (TA), and 5.63% (17/302) due to other causes. TA was the most frequent cause (75.71%) of a sternal fracture, fracture incidences after a TA differed by traumatic cause (p < 0.05). Among sternal fractures, the body was the most commonly involved (68.57%), one wall was limited (32.85%), and anteroposterior length increased (7.14%). Body fractures involving two or more segments included 33.33% of the cases. The hospitalization period was not related with sternal fracture (p = 0.30).
CONCLUSION
fracture was more frequent after a TA than due to other causes. Fracture incidences after a TA depended on the traumatic causes. Involvement of two or more segments and one wall-limitation were common among sternal fractures. Sternal fractures occurred even in slightly injured patients.

MeSH Terms

Accidents, Traffic
Hospitalization
Humans
Incidence*
Medical Records
Retrospective Studies
Sternum
Tomography, X-Ray Computed