Skeletal chest injuries secondary to cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

OBJECTIVE: To review the evidence on the incidence of rib and sternal fractures after conventional closed-chest compression in the treatment of cardiac arrest in adults and children, and after active compression-decompression cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ACD-CPR).

METHODS: Medline search and additional review of the cited literature in the articles found.

RESULTS: Reports on conventional CPR in adults suggest an incidence of rib fractures ranging from 13 to 97%, and of sternal fractures from 1 to 43%. Reports on CPR in children suggest an incidence of rib fractures of 0-2%, and no sternal fractures. ACD-CPR has been reported as causing rib fractures in 4-87%, and sternal fractures in 0-93% of cases.

CONCLUSIONS: Sound methodological studies on thoracic fractures due to chest compression do not exist and the available studies cannot be compared one with another. In infants and toddlers, manual CPR rarely causes skeletal chest injuries. In adults, sternal fractures occur in at least one-fifth and rib fractures as well as rib and/or sternal fractures in at least one-third of the patients during conventional CPR. There is no compelling evidence to show that an increased complication rate is associated with ACD-CPR. Rib or sternal fractures are unlikely to increase mortality, as they rarely cause severe internal organ damage. Further prospective studies are desirable to assess complications by post-mortem examinations that explicitly address them. In particular, clinical evaluation of mechanical CPR devices should be accompanied by a thorough assessment of the associated complications because data specific to this modality are not available.