Table 1.

MeSH Terms and Keywords in Search Strategy

Category	Search Strategy
Flail Chest	“Rib Fractures”[Mesh] OR “Flail Chest”[Mesh] OR “Rib Fracture” OR “Rib Fractures” OR “costal fracture” OR “flail thorax” OR “thorax flail” OR “Flail Chest” OR “Stove in Chest” OR “Stove-in Chest”
Operative Management	“General Surgery”[Mesh] OR “Surgical Procedures, Operative”[Mesh] OR “surgery”[Subheading] OR “surgery” OR “operative” OR “operating” OR “operation” OR operate* OR “invasive procedures” OR “invasive procedure” OR “surgical” OR “resection”
Study Design	“Controlled Clinical Trial”[Publication Type] OR “Randomized Controlled Trial”[Publication Type] OR Groups[tiab] OR trial[tiab] OR randomly[tiab] OR randomized[tiab] OR grouped[tiab] OR group[tiab] OR “Case-Control Studies”[Mesh] OR “Retrospective Studies”[Mesh] OR “Retrospective Studies” OR “Case-Control Studies” OR “Case-Control Study” OR “Case-Comparison Studies” OR “Case Comparison Studies” OR “Case-Comparison Study” OR “Case-Compeer Studies” OR “Case Compeer Studies” OR “Case- Compeer Study” OR “Case-Referrent Studies” OR “Case Referrent Studies” OR “Case-Referrent Study” OR “Case-Referent Studies” OR “Case Referent Studies” OR “Case-Referent Study” OR “Case-Base Studies” OR “Case Base Studies” OR “Case-Base Study” OR “Case Control Studies” OR “Case Control Study” OR “Retrospective Study” OR “matched case control” OR “ex post facto design” OR “retrospective design” OR “retrospective panel studies” OR “retrospective panel study”