Document resource
Background Surgical stabilization of ribs (SSRF) has been associated with shorter durations of mechanical ventilation and hospital and intensive care unit lengths of stay (LOS). Vizient is a national organization that provides detailed quality data, including the LOS index, benchmarked to comparable-sized and acuity health systems.Aims Identify factors associated with shorter and expected LOS index among patients undergoing SSRF.Method We performed a retrospective review of all adult trauma patients who underwent SSRF from November 2021 to May 2023 at our American College of Surgeons Level 1 trauma center. Logistic regression on key patient characteristics was performed to assess associations with LOS index <1.Results 37 (69%) patients had an LOS index <1, whereas 17 (32%) had an expected LOS index >1. Patients with a LOS index <1 had lower injury severity scores (ISS) (16.9 SD=11.2 vs 21.7 SD=10.5, p=0.029) and were more commonly working full-time preinjury (n=16, 43%) compared with patients with a LOS index >1 (n=8, 47%, p=0.042). LOS index >1 was also associated with higher body mass index (BMI), government insurance, and polytrauma.Conclusion Focused, early interventions in patients with higher BMI, polytrauma, and higher ISS scores may help lower the LOS index among patients undergoing SSRF.