A rib fracture can cause severe pain, shortness of breath, and internal organ injuries, including a perforated lung, when the fracture has an irregular edge; However, when the rib fracture has no separate bones or an irregular edge, it is easier to resolve without significant health risks.
The main cause of coastal fracture is injuries, caused by car accidents, assaults or sports in adults and young people, or falls, which are more common in the elderly.Other possible causes include bone weakness from osteoporosis, a rib tumor, or an overload fracture, which occurs in people who perform repetitive movements or exercises without proper or excessive preparation.
- To treat a rib fracture.
- Your doctor often prescribes pain relievers in addition to rest and physical therapy.
- Surgery is only indicated in some cases.
- Where there is no improvement with initial treatment.
- Or where the fracture causes a serious injury.
- Including a puncture of the lungs or other viscera of the chest.
The most common symptoms of a rib fracture include
The rib fracture is usually not severe, however, in some cases it can lead to perforation of the lungs and other organs and blood vessels in the chest.This is worrying because it can cause life-threatening bleeding, prompt medical evaluation and therefore treatment is necessary.
Fracture is more common in young people who are involved in a car or motorcycle accident, but in the elderly, it can occur as a result of falls, and in the baby or child, there is a sign of abuse, since the ribs at this stage are more accommodating, indicating a recurrence of the thrust or a direct trauma to the chest.
You should see your doctor if you have symptoms such as
In these cases, it is recommended to go to the emergency unit (UPA) closest to your home.
Diagnosis of a chest fracture is made by physical evaluation by the doctor, who may also order tests such as chest x-rays, to identify the sites of the injury and to observe other complications such as bleeding (hemothorax), air leakage from lung to chest (pneumothorax), pulmonary contusion or aortic lesions, for example.
Other tests that can also be done are chest ultrasound, which allows for more accurate identification of complications such as air leakage and bleeding, while chest tomography can be performed when there are still doubts about injuries in at-risk patients and patients requiring surgery.
However, X-rays detect less than 10% of fractures, especially those that don’t move, and ultrasound doesn’t show all cases either, so physical evaluation is of great importance.
The main way to treat coastal fractures is a conservative treatment, that is, only with painkillers, such as dipirone, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, tramadol or codeine, for example, in addition to rest, the body will be in charge of healing the wound.
It is not recommended to tie anything around the chest as this can make it difficult to expand the lungs, causing major complications, such as pneumonia for example.
In case of severe pain, it is possible to perform injections, called anesthetic blockages, to relieve pain.Surgery, on the other hand, is generally not routinely indicated, but may be necessary for more severe cases, where there is heavy bleeding or damage.to the organs of the rib cage.
Physical therapy is also very important, as exercises are indicated to help maintain muscle strength and the breadth of the chest joint, as well as breathing exercises that help you find better ways to widen your chest.
Most rib fractures heal in 1 to 2 months, and during this time, pain management is very important so you can breathe deeply, thus avoiding complications that can occur from this normal difficulty breathing.
The main causes of rib fracture are
People with osteoporosis have an increased risk of developing coastal fractures because it causes bone weakness and can cause fractures even without impact.