Hani Saiedi, Ahmed Aljuhani, Mohammed Khalid Alghamdi, Hamad F. Alotaibi, Yunus M. Alzahrani, Nawaf F. Alshaikh, Naief Dahran, Mohammad Y. Lamfon, Rayan Saleh M. Alzahrani, Mujahid Abdulrahman Aljohani
Background: Rib fractures are common injuries associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Early diagnosis and management improve outcomes. This study evaluated the role of arterial and venous blood gas parameters in the diagnosis and prognosis of rib fractures. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study included 66 patients with rib fractures who underwent blood gas analysis at King Abdullah Medical Complex Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, between 2016 and 2022. Results: Most patients were male (84.8%), with a mean age of 40.56 years. Older age was associated with a greater number of fractured ribs, higher arterial blood gas (ABG) PCO2, higher anion gap, and lower venous blood gas (VBG) O2 saturation. The mean hospital stay was 12.49 days. Higher ABG PO2 was associated with shorter hospitalization, whereas lateral chest involvement, flail chest, and hemopneumothorax were associated with longer hospital stays. The median number of fractured ribs was 3. A greater number of rib fractures correlated with lower VBG pH, higher PCO2, and lower HCO3. Pneumothorax (39.4%) was the most common associated injury, followed by hemothorax (18.2%). Right-sided rib fractures occurred in 62.1% of patients, and 83.3% of hemothorax cases were right-sided. Road traffic accidents accounted for 57.6% of injuries. Conclusions: ABG and VBG parameters may assist in the diagnosis and prognosis of rib fractures. Pneumothorax was the most common associated injury, followed by hemothorax, while road traffic accidents were the leading mechanism of injury. The mean hospital stay was 12.49 days.