Rib fractures

Rib fractures may be due to blunt force injury, falls, non-accidental injury, aggressive CPR, severe coughing, athletic activities, or metastatic lesions and primary bone tumours.

Among infants younger than 12 months presenting with rib fractures, as many as 82% sustained these injuries non-accidentally (i.e., through physical abuse).

Assessment includes identification of the fracture itself and any concurrent injuries. These include pneumothorax, haemopneumothorax, pulmonary contusions, and a flail chest.

Chest radiography is the first-line imaging modality in patients presenting with known injury, followed by a chest CT if needed.

Treatment includes pain control, physiotherapy, and mobilisation, and treatment of concomitant injuries.

An increased number of ribs fractured correlates with increased morbidity and mortality.

A rib fracture is a break in the rib bone of the thoracic skeleton. Rib fractures are common injuries that may be due to blunt force trauma, falls, non-accidental injury, aggressive cardiopulmonary resuscitation, severe coughing, athletic activities, or fractures due to primary bone tumours and metastatic lesions. Rib fractures can be relatively benign, but often may be a marker of concomitant injuries such as pneumothorax, haemopneumothorax, and/or pulmonary contusions. An increased number of fractured ribs correlates with increased morbidity and mortality.