Patients enrolled in the study and sample selection procedures
flail chest, fractures
Patients were included in the present research in three hospitals in Jiangsu Province. The following were the criteria for inclusion: (1) patients aged 18 to 70 years; (2) patients who met the diagnostic criteria of multiple rib fractures by imaging examination (CT three-dimensional reconstruction), multiple rib fractures in patients with multiple (≥ 3) displaced rib fractures and/or flail chest (≥ 3 consecutive ribs fractured in ≥ 2 places) [