Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of Patients with Isolated Sternal Fractures: A Retrospective Study

Objective: Isolated sternal fractures represent a rare yet clinically significant subgroup of chest trauma. This study aimed to evaluate the demographic and clinical characteristics, trauma mechanisms, fracture localizations, and treatment outcomes of patients with isolated sternal fractures. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 151 patients diagnosed with isolated sternal fractures and treated between January 2013 and November 2023. Patients were assessed based on age, gender, mechanism of injury, fracture localization, treatment method, and clinical course. Fractures were classified into three anatomical regions, and trauma mechanisms were categorized into five groups. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23.0. Results: Of the patients, 71.5% were male, and the mean age was 51.5±18.3 years. The most common cause of trauma was motor vehicle accidents (74.2%). The most frequently affected fracture site was the corpus sterni (48.3%). All patients were managed conservatively, and no mortality or significant cardiac complications were observed. The mean length of hospital stay was 3.24±1.15 days. Conclusion: These findings suggest that isolated sternal fractures typically follow a stable clinical course and can be effectively managed with conservative treatment.