Table 1

Characteristics of patients with first rib fractures compared with those with other rib fractures

First rib fracture
(n=1683)
Other rib fracture
(n=8369)
Median age, years (IQR) 55.2 (32.9–70.8)64.7 (38.1–80.4)p<0.001
Age groups, n (%)
16–44 years641 (38.1)1981 (23.7)p<0.001
45–54 years289 (17.2)1402 (16.8)
55–64 years231 (13.7)1305 (15.6)
65–75 years245 (14.5)1299 (15.5)
>75 years277 (16.4)2382 (28.5)
Gender, n (%)
Male1189 (70.7)5592 (66.8)p=0.002
Female494 (29.3)2777 (33.2)
Charlson Comorbidity Index, n (%)
Not recorded269 (16)1048 (12.5)p<0.001
01070 (63.6)4733 (56.6)
1–5258 (15.3)1900 (22.7)
6–1053 (3.1)474 (5.7)
>1033 (2)214 (2.6)
GCS, n (%)
3156 (9.3)260 (3.1)p<0.001
4–549 (2.9)65 (0.8)
6–875 (4.5)142 (1.7)
9–12105 (6.2)272 (3.3)
13–14271 (16.1)940 (11.2)
15985 (58.6)6407 (76.6)
Intubated42 (2.5)283 (3.4)
Mechanism of injury, n (%)
RTC1032 (61.3)2855 (34.1)p<0.001
Fall <2 m163 (9.7)3159 (37.7)
Fall >2 m412 (24.5)1687 (20.2)
Shooting/stabbing4 (0.2)97 (1.2)
Other72 (4.3)571 (6.8)
Injury severity and pattern
Median ISS (IQR)29 (13–41)26 (9–35)p<0.001
ISS >151286 (76.4%)3826 (45.7%)p<0.001
Polytrauma809 (48.1%)2009 (24.0%)p<0.001
  • ISS, Injury Severity Score; RTC, road traffic collision.