Location
Philadelphia, PA
Start Date
17-4-2026 1:30 PM
End Date
17-4-2026 2:30 PM
Description
Introduction: Flail chest from multiple rib fractures manifests with significant pulmonary decline, including respiratory failure, prolonged mechanical ventilation, and subsequent mortality. Recommended treatment for flail chest is Open-Reduction and Internal Fixation (ORIF) to stabilize the ribs. For severe comminuted and displaced fractures, traditional imaging fails to fully capture the complex spatial displacement of the bony injuries. Virtual Reality (VR)-based 3D modeling facilitates perioperative planning by improving anatomic precision during surgical fixation in patients with flail-rib type fractures.
Case presentation: 34-year-old male who sustained a high-energy train collision resulting in a left-sided flail segment (ribs 4–10). Given the severity of his rib fractures and his respiratory insufficiency, the patient underwent rib fixation. Using intra-operative VR, incisions could be accurately marked, augmenting surgical treatment. Intraoperatively, VR-guided localization facilitated a "sandwich technique" repair of the comminuted fractures. Post-operatively, the patient's Incentive Spirometry volume increased from 400 mL to 1000 mL. Social and behavioral health issues further complicated his care, though he was ultimately discharged on post-op day 12. Outpatient visit post-op day 21 showed stability of the chest wall and a return to baseline pulmonary function.
Conclusion/Discussion: VR-assisted rib fixation enables perioperative planning and provides an anatomical map for surgeons. 3D imaging can pinpoint fracture locations and minimize incision size, thereby potentially improving post-operative recovery. Furthermore, improved fracture localization accuracy can reduce operating time. This study demonstrates the use of the VR system in trauma surgery, enhancing surgical capability in complex rib fracture cases.
Embargo Period
6-2-2026
Included in
Virtual Reality-Assisted Perioperative Planning for Surgical Stabilization of Flail Rib Fractures: Case Report
Philadelphia, PA
Introduction: Flail chest from multiple rib fractures manifests with significant pulmonary decline, including respiratory failure, prolonged mechanical ventilation, and subsequent mortality. Recommended treatment for flail chest is Open-Reduction and Internal Fixation (ORIF) to stabilize the ribs. For severe comminuted and displaced fractures, traditional imaging fails to fully capture the complex spatial displacement of the bony injuries. Virtual Reality (VR)-based 3D modeling facilitates perioperative planning by improving anatomic precision during surgical fixation in patients with flail-rib type fractures.
Case presentation: 34-year-old male who sustained a high-energy train collision resulting in a left-sided flail segment (ribs 4–10). Given the severity of his rib fractures and his respiratory insufficiency, the patient underwent rib fixation. Using intra-operative VR, incisions could be accurately marked, augmenting surgical treatment. Intraoperatively, VR-guided localization facilitated a "sandwich technique" repair of the comminuted fractures. Post-operatively, the patient's Incentive Spirometry volume increased from 400 mL to 1000 mL. Social and behavioral health issues further complicated his care, though he was ultimately discharged on post-op day 12. Outpatient visit post-op day 21 showed stability of the chest wall and a return to baseline pulmonary function.
Conclusion/Discussion: VR-assisted rib fixation enables perioperative planning and provides an anatomical map for surgeons. 3D imaging can pinpoint fracture locations and minimize incision size, thereby potentially improving post-operative recovery. Furthermore, improved fracture localization accuracy can reduce operating time. This study demonstrates the use of the VR system in trauma surgery, enhancing surgical capability in complex rib fracture cases.