Table 4 Thoracic injuries, estimated CT-lung volume, and lung function 6 weeks, 6 months and one year post-trauma in patients managed operatively (Op group) with or without a thoracotomy, and non-operatively (Non-Op group) for flail chest injuries

2.72 (1.30–5.31)

2.56 (1.43–4.69)

3.31 (1.30–5.31)

2.92 (1.69–6.97)

33 (69)

25 (74)

8 (57)

29 (83)

0.22 (0.01–1.02)

0.13 (0.01–0.62)

0.76 (0.50–1.02)

0.11 (0.02–0.62)

5 (10)

4 (12)

1 (7)

2 (6)

42 (88)

30 (88)

12 (86)

27 (77)

33 (69)

24 (71)

9 (64)

24 (69)

8 (17)

5 (15)

3 (21)

10 (29)

84 (47–125)

78 (47–99)^a,b

92 (54–125)

89 (47–111)

76 (42–140)^a

67 (42–95)^a,b

92 (59–140)

84 (39–113)

88 (42–142)

82 (47–132)^b

103 (42–142)

101 (27–134)

70 ± 29^a

64 ± 28^a,b

84 ± 28

87 ± 27

98 ± 35^a

94 ± 29^a

106 ± 47

130 ± 37

5.61 (2.11–8.77)

5.30 (2.11–7.40)^b

6.60 (3.87–8.77)

5.80 (1.82–8.04)

88 (41–138)

83 (41–112)^b

96 (70–138)

94 (47–118)

81 (39–120)^a

75 (39–103)^a,b

96 (69–120)

94 (45–131)

89 (41–148)^a

81 (41–148)^a,b

97 (41–131)

100 (33–150)

78 ± 36^a

74 ± 37^a

89 ± 35

104 ± 28

107 ± 39^a

104 ± 39^a

114 ± 42^a

155 ± 49

90 (49–138)

82 (49–115)

97 (76–138)

96 (48–118)

82 (39–126)^a

75 (39–108)^a,b

96 (72–126)

96 (41–123)

98 (43–134)

93 (43–134)

107 (70–129)

108 (25–155)

82 ± 31^a

78 ± 28^a

95 ± 37

106 ± 29

110 ± 39^a

108 ± 38^a

116 ± 44^a

158 ± 43