Table 2. Published RCTs of SSRF in patients with flail chest.

First author	Published	Region	N	Method of fixation	Time to SSRF	Outcome(s)
Tanaka (13)	2002	Japan	37	Judet struts	120 hours	❖ ↓ Vent days; ❖ ↓ ICU LOS; ❖ ↓ PNA; ❖ ↑ FVC; ❖ ↓ Cost; ❖ ↑ Back to work;
Granetzny (14)	2005	Egypt	40	Wires	36 hours	❖ ↓ Vent days; ❖ ↓ ICU LOS; ❖ ↓ PNA ❖ Impr PFTs at 2 months
Marasco (15)	2013	Australia	46	Resorbable plates	48 hours	❖ ↓ Vent days; ❖ ↓ ICU LOS; ❖ ↓ PNA; ❖ No QoL; ❖ No impr PFTs at 3 months

LOS, length of stay; ICU, intensive care unit; PFT, pulmonary function test; PNA, pneumonia; FVC, forced vital capacity; QoL, quality of life.