Abdominal flank bulge following intercostal neurectomy for symptomatic rib fracture nonunion.

BMJ Case Reports
Jonne T H Prins, Mathieu M E Wijffels

Abstract

The gold standard for rib fracture nonunion management remains a matter of debate. Operative treatment of rib fracture nonunion has become increasingly popular. A 69-year-old man was operatively treated with intercostal neurectomy of the left eighth rib to resolve chronic thoracic pain following a rib fracture nonunion. After the intervention, the patient developed a flank bulge which was most likely due to the intercostal neurectomy, causing partial denervation of the abdominal musculature. Although the pain at the nonunion site decreased after the operative intervention, the patient still experienced severe pain during daily activities and reported poor quality of life due to the flank bulge. Physiotherapy and an abdominal belt did not improve this flank bulge. When considering operative neurectomy of the intercostal nerves of ribs 7-12 to resolve chronic pain due to rib fracture nonunion, the treating surgeon should be aware of this debilitating complication.

References

Mar 1, 1991·The American Journal of Sports Medicine·D S ProfferD W Jackson
May 1, 1984·The Journal of Trauma·J LandercasperL A Lindesmith
Jul 1, 1994·Archives of Surgery·G P GardnerJ O Menzoian
Mar 1, 1996·Injury·R L Morgan-Jones, I G Mackie
Mar 4, 2000·The Journal of Trauma·R N CacchioneD Seligson
Aug 23, 2001·The Annals of Thoracic Surgery·M S SlaterD D Trunkey
Jun 19, 2003·The Journal of Trauma·Mahlon A Kerr-ValenticJohn C Mayberry
Oct 27, 2004·Journal of the American College of Surgeons·Ryan S HoffmanRobert D Smink
Nov 5, 2005·Surgery·Benjamin T FlagelRichard L Gamelli
Apr 12, 2008·The Journal of Trauma·David H LivingstonRobert F Lavery
Oct 25, 2008·World Journal of Surgery·Raminder NirulaJohn C Mayberry
Jun 3, 2009·The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. American Volume·T J GardenbroekL P H Leenen
Jan 7, 2011·The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. American Volume·Paul M LaffertyPeter A Cole
Aug 21, 2012·Hernia : the Journal of Hernias and Abdominal Wall Surgery·L TimmermansJ F Lange
Apr 18, 2013·American Journal of Surgery·Loic FabricantJohn Mayberry
Jan 25, 2014·The Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery·Niloofar DehghanAvery Nathens
Jul 30, 2014·Injury·Silvana MarascoMichael Bailey
Dec 3, 2014·Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma·Erich M GaugerPeter A Cole
Feb 2, 2017·Archives of Trauma Research·Brandon C ChapmanFredric M Pieracci
Jun 1, 2017·Annals of Emergency Medicine·Charles E MurphyRobert M Rodriguez
Jun 21, 2017·Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine·Michael Ting, Justo Gonzalez
Jul 12, 2017·Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma·Daniel J KaplanNirmal Tejwani
Jul 13, 2017·The Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery·Erica D KaneAndrew R Doben
Apr 25, 2018·Asian Cardiovascular & Thoracic Annals·Stefan E van OostendorpWietse P Zuidema
Nov 28, 2018·International Journal of Surgery Case Reports·Rodrigo PedrazaMin P Kim
Feb 23, 2020·Journal of the American College of Surgeons·Nicholas W SheetsLawrence P Sue
Apr 14, 2020·The Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery·Jesse PeekR Marijn Houwert
May 1, 2020·The Annals of Thoracic Surgery·Kerrie E BuehlerEric Vallières
Jul 16, 2020·JBJS Case Connector·Erick M MarigiPeter A Cole
Sep 19, 2020·JBJS Essential Surgical Techniques·Alexander A FokinIvan Puente

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.