MINIMALLY INVASIVE REPAIR OF SLIPPED RIB SYNDROME

Objectives: Slipped Rib Syndrome (SRS) has remained an unrecognized cause of lower chest and upper abdominal pain causing patients to undergo multiple inconclusive workups. Treatment for this disease can be conservative with pain control, but operative repair is the definitive treatment. Traditionally, surgical approach involved resection of the cartilaginous portion of slipped rib. In recent years, Vertical rib plating and minimally invasive realignment of slipped rib using sutures have been described which do not require cartilaginous excision. We present our experience with the minimally invasive realignment of the slipped rib.

Methods: IRB approval was obtained. A retrospective review of all patients who underwent minimally invasive realignment of the slipped rib between 01/20 to 06/22 was included. Following data was recorded: Patients Age, Gender, Imaging obtained prior to diagnosis, Preoperative pain (Self-reported scale) Length of stay, Postoperative complication, post-operative pain at defined intervals (self-reported scale).

Results: We have 11 patients undergo operative repair for SRS. 54% of our patients were male, and the average age was 48 yrs. 36% (n=11) of our patients had received unremarkable imaging prior to diagnosis. The average length of hospital stay for our patients was 1 days. One of our patients developed post op seroma and one developed pneumothorax. Median improvement in pain was 100% at the 1ST postoperative visit.

Conclusion: SRS is the lesser-known disease entity which carries significant morbidity. With early hospital discharge, no perioperative complications, and complete resolution of symptoms, our experience suggest Minimally invasive realignment of slipped rib using sutures is a well-tolerated procedure. More work is needed to aid in wide recognition of this entity.