1. Fractures and other chest wall abnormalities after thoracotomy for esophageal cancer: A retrospective cohort study.
- Author
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Van Wijck SFM, Barza A, Vermeulen J, Eyck BM, Van der Wilk BJ, Van der Harst E, Verhofstad MHJ, Lagarde SM, Van Lieshout EMM, and Wijffels MME
- Subjects
- Humans, Thoracotomy adverse effects, Retrospective Studies, Quality of Life, Chest Pain surgery, Thoracic Wall, Rib Fractures surgery, Pneumonia etiology, Esophageal Neoplasms complications
- Abstract
Background: Chest pain following a thoracotomy for esophageal cancer is frequently reported but poorly understood. This study aimed to (1) determine the prevalence of thoracotomy-related thoracic fractures on postoperative imaging and (2) compare complications, long-term pain, and quality of life in patients with versus without these fractures., Methods: This retrospective cohort study enrolled patients with esophageal cancer who underwent a thoracotomy between 2010 and 2020 with pre- and postoperative CTs (<1 and/or >6 months). Disease-free patients were invited for questionnaires on pain and quality of life., Results: Of a total of 366 patients, thoracotomy-related rib fractures were seen in 144 (39%) and thoracic transverse process fractures in 4 (2%) patients. Patients with thoracic fractures more often developed complications (89% vs. 74%, p = 0.002), especially pneumonia (51% vs. 39%, p = 0.032). Questionnaires were completed by 77 after a median of 41 (P
25 -P75 28-91) months. Long-term pain was frequently (63%) reported but was not associated with thoracic fractures (p = 0.637), and neither were quality of life scores., Conclusions: Thoracic fractures are prevalent in patients following a thoracotomy for esophageal cancer. These thoracic fractures were associated with an increased risk of postoperative complications, especially pneumonia, but an association with long-term pain or reduced quality of life was not confirmed., (© 2024 The Authors. World Journal of Surgery published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Surgery/Société Internationale de Chirurgie (ISS/SIC).)- Published
- 2024
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