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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]
Nonunion is a serious complication of a fracture and may occur when the fracture moves too much, has a poor blood supply or gets infected. Patients who smoke have a higher incidence of nonunion. The normal process of bone healing is interrupted or stalled. [citation needed]
Diagnosing slipping rib syndrome is predominantly clinical, [10] [11] with a physical examination of the affected rib being the most commonly utilized. A technique known as the "hooking maneuver" is commonly used amongst medical professionals to diagnose slipping rib syndrome.
For the condition to occur, generally there must be a significant force applied over a large surface of the thorax to create the multiple anterior and posterior rib fractures. Rollover and crushing injuries most commonly break ribs at only one point, whereas for flail chest to occur a significant impact is required, breaking the ribs in two or ...
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.
Some fractures may lead to serious complications including a condition known as compartment syndrome. If not treated, eventually, compartment syndrome may require amputation of the affected limb. Other complications may include non-union, where the fractured bone fails to heal, or malunion, where the fractured bone heals in a deformed manner.
The death rate for diaphragmatic rupture after blunt and penetrating trauma is estimated to be 15–40% and 10–30% respectively, but other injuries play a large role in determining outcome. [6] Herniation of abdominal organs is present in 3–4% of people with abdominal trauma who present to a trauma center.
Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) is a highly valuable imaging tool for the diagnosis of occult fractures. CT has several advantages including short acquisition time (compared to MRI), the ability to acquire volumetric and isotropic image data sets, the opportunity to reconstruct multiplanar reformations in any arbitrary plane, and excellent spatial resolution.