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A sternal fracture is a fracture of the sternum (the breastbone), located in the center of the chest.The injury, which occurs in 5–8% of people who experience significant blunt chest trauma, may occur in vehicle accidents, when the still-moving chest strikes a steering wheel or dashboard [1] or is injured by a seatbelt.
Costochondritis, also known as chest wall pain syndrome or costosternal syndrome, is a benign inflammation of the upper costochondral (rib to cartilage) and sternocostal (cartilage to sternum) joints. 90% of patients are affected in multiple ribs on a single side, typically at the 2nd to 5th ribs. [1]
Fractures of the sternum are rather uncommon. They may result from trauma, such as when a driver's chest is forced into the steering column of a car in a car accident. A fracture of the sternum is usually a comminuted fracture. The most common site of sternal fractures is at the sternal angle. Some studies reveal that repeated punches or ...
Flail chest is usually accompanied by a pulmonary contusion, a bruise of the lung tissue that can interfere with blood oxygenation. [5] Often, it is the contusion, not the flail segment, that is the main cause of respiratory problems in people with both injuries. [6] Surgery to fix the fractures appears to result in better outcomes. [7]
Management is a mixture of medical (eg pain relief, respiratory support, chest drainage and antibiotics), non-medical (physiotherapy and rehabilitation) and surgical (fixation of rib fractures if appropriate and operative treatment of cardiac, lung, airway, diaphragm and oesophageal injuries).
Chest pain that intensifies with deep breathing, coughing or laughing. Unexplained weight loss. Hoarse voice. Exhaustion or weakness. Wheezing. Frequent chest infections such as bronchitis and ...
A rib fracture is a break in a rib bone. [1] This typically results in chest pain that is worse with inspiration. [1] Bruising may occur at the site of the break. [3] When several ribs are broken in several places a flail chest results. [4] Potential complications include a pneumothorax, pulmonary contusion, and pneumonia. [2] [1]
The condition may also occur when a fractured rib punctures a lung; [9] in fact, 27% of patients who have rib fractures also have subcutaneous emphysema. [11] Rib fractures may tear the parietal pleura, the membrane lining the inside of chest wall, allowing air to escape into the subcutaneous tissues. [13]