<p>Researchers have developed a new ‘pioneering’ surgical technique to repair broken ribs, that dramatically reduces pain and the recovery time.<br /><br /></p>.<p>A two-hour surgical procedure called the ‘Synthes Rib Matrix’, available for 12,000 pounds, involves making a small incision and inserting a titanium metal plate shaped to fit the anatomical contours of the rib.<br /><br />Instead of leaving the ribs to heal by themselves, tailor-made metal plates are pinned to the broken bones to speed up the healing process and alleviate pain, the Daily Mail reported. Tom Routledge, consultant thoracic surgeon who works at London hospitals Guy’s and London Bridge, offers the technique.<br /><br />“Ribs are like dry twigs and they can break very easily – in some cases just by coughing. This also makes them very difficult to repair,” Routledge said.<br /><br />“We now have the technology to stabilise the fracture, pulling the ribs back into place, which relieves the pain straight away,” he said.<br /><br />Each ready-made plate is about half an inch wide and varies in length from 2 to 5 inches, depending on which rib it is being used for.<br /><br />The plate and the rib are then attached together with screws to hold the bone in place. The plates are left in the body for ever.<br /><br />“Within two days, patients are in much better shape and are normally out of hospital.<br />Although this procedure is approved by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) in UK, many doctors do not know about it.<br /><br />“Patients are still being told by local A&E departments that nothing can be done for broken ribs,” says Routledge.<br /><br />“But there is no need for patients to suffer at home in pain any more. The best time to have this operation is as soon after the break as possible as it speeds up recovery,” he said.<br /></p>
<p>Researchers have developed a new ‘pioneering’ surgical technique to repair broken ribs, that dramatically reduces pain and the recovery time.<br /><br /></p>.<p>A two-hour surgical procedure called the ‘Synthes Rib Matrix’, available for 12,000 pounds, involves making a small incision and inserting a titanium metal plate shaped to fit the anatomical contours of the rib.<br /><br />Instead of leaving the ribs to heal by themselves, tailor-made metal plates are pinned to the broken bones to speed up the healing process and alleviate pain, the Daily Mail reported. Tom Routledge, consultant thoracic surgeon who works at London hospitals Guy’s and London Bridge, offers the technique.<br /><br />“Ribs are like dry twigs and they can break very easily – in some cases just by coughing. This also makes them very difficult to repair,” Routledge said.<br /><br />“We now have the technology to stabilise the fracture, pulling the ribs back into place, which relieves the pain straight away,” he said.<br /><br />Each ready-made plate is about half an inch wide and varies in length from 2 to 5 inches, depending on which rib it is being used for.<br /><br />The plate and the rib are then attached together with screws to hold the bone in place. The plates are left in the body for ever.<br /><br />“Within two days, patients are in much better shape and are normally out of hospital.<br />Although this procedure is approved by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) in UK, many doctors do not know about it.<br /><br />“Patients are still being told by local A&E departments that nothing can be done for broken ribs,” says Routledge.<br /><br />“But there is no need for patients to suffer at home in pain any more. The best time to have this operation is as soon after the break as possible as it speeds up recovery,” he said.<br /></p>