Abstract:
A forty seven-year-old male was admitted to the intensive care unit with left hemopneumothorax, and left lung collapse with several contusions caused by multiple rib fractures and inward angulation of the left third to the ninth ribs after a road traffic accident. Despite an intercostal tube insertion and invasive positive pressure ventilation,weaning trials failed over eight Intensive care unit days. The fourth to the seventh ribs were surgically fixed using two millimetres thickness plates and screws via a posterolateral thoracotomy approach. Immediate lung expansion was obviously seen intraoperatively. The postoperative requirement for analgesia was significantly reduced. Successful weaning off mechanical ventilation and extubation was achieved after 72-hours postoperative followed by discharge after one week. Two weeks after, postoperative stitches were removed, the wound was clean,odorless and the patient was breathing totally normal.At three months follow up, the patient was back to his normal daily life and work without any complications.