U-plate stabilization of flail chest

The chest radiograph shows U-plates in situ, which were used to stabilize a three-segment flail chest. This patient in his late fifties fell in his bathtub, landing on his left chest. He presented with severe chest pain and complained of hearing a "click" when he breathed. Chest imaging confirmed fracture of ribs 8 to 11 anteriorly and 6 to 10 posteriorly. Pain severely limited his movement despite him receiving systemic and regional analgesia. He underwent operative fixation of ribs 6 and 7 anteriorly and 8 to 9 posteriorly. Following rib fixation, he was able to get out of bed into a chair on postoperative day 1 and ambulate on postoperative day 2.