• Yi-Han Lin and Han-Shui Hsu.
• Institute of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
• J Chin Med Assoc. 2024 Sep 1; 87 (9): 854860854-860.

BackgroundThis study aimed to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy in patients with rib fractures.MethodsThis study retrospectively collected data from patients with acute rib fractures at Ming-Sheng General Hospital from 2020 to 2022 and excluded those who underwent surgical intervention or with severe extrathoracic injuries. PRP was extracted using the patient's blood and injected via ultrasound guidance near the fracture site. Patients self-assessed pain levels and medication usage at 0, 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks. Pulmonary function tests were conducted at 4 weeks.ResultsThis study included 255 patients, with 160 and 95 patients in the conservative (only pain medications administered) and PRP groups (PRP and analgesics administered), respectively. The PRP group reported lower pain levels than the conservative group at 2 and 4 weeks. No substantial differences in medication usage were observed between the groups. The PRP group demonstrated lower pain levels and medication usage than the conservative group in severe rib fractures (≥3 ribs) and better lung function improvement at 4 weeks. After propensity score matching, the PRP group still had a better treatment outcome in pain control and lung function recovery.ConclusionPRP demonstrated considerable therapeutic efficacy in patients with severe rib fractures, resulting in reduced pain, decreased medication usage, and improved lung function but with no substantial benefits in patients with mild rib fractures.Copyright © 2024, the Chinese Medical Association.

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