To review the management and follow-up of patients with minor thoracic injuries (MTI) treated by emergency or primary care physicians.
A multicentre, retrospective study.
Three university-affiliated emergency departments of the metropolitan region of Quebec city, Que.
Patients older than 16 years of age with suspected or proven rib fractures following traumatic events.
Differences in admission and discharge proportions and disposition management following MTI.
Four hundred and forty-seven charts were analyzed. Only 23 patients (5.2%) were admitted during the study period. Admission and discharge proportions were significantly different among the 3 surveyed hospitals, ranging from 1.3% to 15.2% (P
