Surgical treatment ofpatients with severe non-flail chest rib fractures

Table 5 Pairs of pain scores at different time points in the two groups

Time	Surgical group	Conservative group
The highest score of preoperative pain (the highest pain score within 72 h after injury)	6.51 (0.60)	6.31 (0.57)
Pain score at 72 h postoperatively (pain score 1wk after injury)	3.95 (0.72)d	5.46 (0.55)ad
Pain score at 2wk after surgery (2 wk pain score after injury)	2.95 (0.39)d	4.67 (0.53)ad
Pain score at 4wk after surgery (4 wk post-injury pain score)	2.54 (0.51)d	3.92 (0.48)ad
Pain score at 6wk after surgery (6 wk post-injury pain score)	1.87 (0.34)d	3.33 (0.48)ad
Pain score at 3 mo after surgery (pain score after 3 mo)	0.90 (0.45)d	2.92 (0.27)ad
Pain score at 6 mo postoperatively (pain score after 6 mo)	0.36 (0.49)d	2.05 (0.65)ad

^aP < 0.05vsthe surgery group.

^dP < 0.05 vs the highest preoperative pain score.