{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,20]],"date-time":"2025-12-20T22:12:25Z","timestamp":1766268745001,"version":"3.44.0"},"reference-count":26,"publisher":"AOSIS","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,27]],"date-time":"2025-06-27T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1750982400000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,27]],"date-time":"2025-06-27T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1750982400000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["S. Afr. j. physiother."],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background:\u00a0Pain and shortness of breath (SOB) after thoracic trauma predispose patients to complications and prolonged hospital length of stay (LOS). Patient management after thoracic trauma is seldom reported.Objectives:\u00a0To describe patient profiles, symptoms, management, adverse events, complications, discharge destinations and follow-up referral services.Method:\u00a0Prospective observational design using clinical record review at two university-affiliated hospitals over 18 months. Adults with thoracic trauma diagnosis were consecutively screened for inclusion. Study objectives guided information retrieved from records. Statistical analyses were done with significance at\u00a0p 0.05.Results:\u00a0Most were male (n\u00a0= 170\/179; 95%). Penetrating trauma following assault was common (n\u00a0= 146\/179; 82%). Conservative management included analgesia (n\u00a0= 176\/178; 98%) and intercostal drain insertion (n\u00a0= 165\/179; 92%). Physiotherapists treated patients daily. Management involved functional activities (cycling [n\u00a0= 71\/149; 48%], early mobilisation [n\u00a0= 120\/174; 69%]), lung volume enhancement (deep breathing exercises [n\u00a0= 97\/174; 56%], positive expiratory pressure [n\u00a0= 98\/174; 56%]), secretion removal (active coughing [n\u00a0= 60\/174; 34%]). Shoulder (n\u00a0= 43\/174; 25%) and trunk (n\u00a0= 6\/153; 4%) ROM were seldom done. Blunt trauma caused higher pain during deep breathing (median 7\/10; IQR: 3.5\u20138.0) versus penetrating trauma (median 4\/10; IQR: 2.0\u20137.5;\u00a0p= 0.04). Most reported \u2018slight\u2019 to \u2018very slight\u2019 SOB. Time out-of-bed and distance walked increased daily with smokers mobilising away from bed frequently (n\u00a0= 73\/95; 77%). Few adverse events and complications occurred. Mean LOS was 5.5 \u00b1 4.3 days. Most were discharged home (n\u00a0= 177\/179; 99%); two were referred for follow-up physiotherapy.Conclusion:\u00a0Management is guided by individual patient needs. Treatment comprises early mobilisation, lung volume enhancement, and secretion removal with less attention on ROM exercises and post-discharge services.Clinical implications:\u00a0Shoulder and trunk ROM should be prioritised. Service delivery approaches need review considering the evidence.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.4102\/sajp.v81i1.2146","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,24]],"date-time":"2025-06-24T03:49:30Z","timestamp":1750736970000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4102\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Profile and management of patients from low-middle socioeconomic status with thoracic trauma"],"prefix":"10.4102","volume":"81","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1926-4690","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Heleen","family":"Van Aswegen","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5254-0875","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ronel","family":"Roos","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0003-4607-6457","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Elizma","family":"Haarhoff","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4788-1928","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Josslyn","family":"De Kock","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4848-2945","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Humairaa","family":"Ebrahim","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9324-5642","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Sameer","family":"Tootla","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0005-3484-6471","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Muhammad","family":"Vally","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0207-4105","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Monika","family":"Fagevik Ols\u00e9n","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"2580","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,27]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref0","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Battle, C., Pelo, C., Hsu, J., Driscoll, T., Whitbeck, S., White, T. et al., 2023, \u2018Expert consensus guidance on respiratory physiotherapy and rehabilitation of patients with rib fractures: An international multidisciplinary e-Delphi study\u2019, Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery 94, 578\u2013583. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1097\/TA.0000000000003875","DOI":"10.1097\/TA.0000000000003875"},{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Battle, C.E., 2020, \u2018Smoking status and outcomes in patients with rib fractures\u2019, European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery 46, 935\u2013936. 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