Materials and Methods: From 2014 to 2016, a total 14 cases (8 male, 6 female, average age 59.6 years (range: 29-76)) who underwent plate fixation were included in the study. The cases were evaluated according to their demographic features, symptoms, radiological scans, numbers and locations of rib fractures, surgical approach performed and its results.

Results: The average number of fractures is 7.5 costa (range: 3-16). Multiple rib fractures were in the left hemithorax in nine cases, in the right hemithorax in two cases and were bilateral in three cases. While all cases had additional pulmonary pathology, 12 cases had different system pathologies. Ten out of 14 cases had flail chest. None of the cases underwent mechanic ventilation in the preoperative stage. Following the planning of their medical treatment based on their clinical condition, they underwent tube thoracotomy. Plate fixation surgery was performed for all cases in an average of one day. The average number of plates used is 3.2 plates (range: 2-5). In four cases, postoperative complications were observed. The average length of stay in hospital in the postoperative period was 7.6 days (range: 3-14).

Conclusions: Rib fractures, which often occur following blunt thoracic trauma, usually heal on their own and treatment is based on the symptoms. However, multiple rib fractures can cause morbidity such as increase in pulmonary complications, prolonged healing process, and reduced life quality or mortality due to complications. While there is no consensus on a specific treatment for rib fractures, open reduction and fixation in rib fractures, in particular those caused by blunt thoracic trauma, is a method of treatment with significant benefits including increase the life quality of the patient, and decrease in potential complications, length of stay in the hospital and cost. Keywords : thoracic trauma, multiple rib fractures, rib fixation