Miami Valley Hospital Receives Chest Wall Injury Collaborative Center Designation

By Candy Skidmore, RN, vice president of emergency and trauma service lines, Premier Health

In collaboration with Wright State Physicians and Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine, Miami Valley Hospital has been named a Chest Wall Injury Collaborative Center by the Chest Wall Injury Society (CWIS). Miami Valley Hospital is the 20th hospital in the world to receive this designation. As a Chest Wall Injury Collaborative Center, Miami Valley Hospital’s Level I Trauma Center will provide comprehensive pain management, respiratory therapy, and rib plating surgery for patients with fractures and those experiencing chronic chest wall pain.

This achievement highlights our Level I trauma services and recognizes Premier Health’s commitment to high-quality care of patients with rib and sternal fractures.

The Chest Wall Injury Society is an international group of rib fracture experts whose mission is to optimize the operative and non-operative care of patients with chest wall injuries. The designation is awarded to programs active in CWIS that have high-volume rib fixation, contribute to the Chest Wall Injury Database (CIID), and are involved with multicenter research trials.

Miami Valley Hospital is a leader in treating rib and sternal fractures. Traditionally, treatment includes pain control and pulmonary support.  In 2016, the first rib plating surgery at Miami Valley Hospital was performed by Greg Semon, DO, a trauma surgeon at Miami Valley Hospital and associate professor of surgery at Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine.  Today, three additional surgeons can perform the surgery. Miami Valley Hospital hosts educational labs and contributes to rib plating research.

Severe rib fractures are typically caused by car or motorcycle crashes, falls, assaults, or other blunt injuries. Long-term consequences may include chronic pain, chest deformity, and decreased lung function if left untreated.  Rib plating, a reconstructive surgery, significantly reduces pain, allowing patients to reduce their pain medications, and shortens the need for hospitalization. The operation is performed by placing the patient under general anesthesia and making incisions over the broken ribs. Titanium plates and screws are then inserted to stabilize the broken ribs, which reduces pain as well as the deformity of the ribcage as the ribs heal.

If you have a patient experiencing chronic chest wall pain, they can make an appointment for an evaluation by calling Wright State Physicians at (937) 245-7200(937) 245-7200 or Miami Valley Hospital’s Trauma Clinic at (937) 208-6268(937) 208-6268.

Back to the September 2022 issue of Premier Pulse