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Most injuries to the chest wall with residual deformity do not result in long-term respiratory dysfunction unless they are associated with pulmonary contusion.

Indications for operative fixation include flail chest, reduction of pain and disability, a chest wall deformity or defect, symptomatic nonunion, thoracotomy for other indications, and open fractures.

Operative indications for chest wall injuries are rare.

Copyright 2011 by The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Incorporated