Fracture of the ribs: symptoms and treatment

One of the most common damagesThe sternum is a fractured rib. Symptoms and treatment of this trauma will be discussed in this article. It accounts for about sixteen percent of the total number of all types of injuries. Especially often fracture of ribs occurs among older people, less often in children and adolescents. This statistic is conditioned by the fact that in the latter the thorax is characterized by increased elasticity. Therefore, even a fairly strong compression is not capable of leading to any trauma to the sternum.

Fracture of the ribs: symptoms of open injury

It is not difficult to diagnose such fractures:The broken bone or its fragments penetrate to the surface through the wound canal, which in itself is dangerous, as it is fraught with abscesses and infection, in addition, there is a risk of losing large amounts of blood. Treatment of such fractures at home is almost impossible, as it requires careful diagnosis and the participation of highly qualified specialists.

Fracture of ribs: symptoms of closed sternum damage

Now let's take a closer look at the symptoms directly, which will help diagnose fracture of the ribs. Symptoms of trauma in many respects will depend on its localization:

• With direct and lateral fractures, breathingthe victim becomes frequent and superficial, often fractures of the ribs cause stagnant processes in the lungs, so that the development of post-traumatic pneumonia is possible.
• Swelling and swelling at the site of the proposed fracture.
• Painful sensations in the chest, which increase with exhalation and inspiration, are typical for most cases of such injuries.
• It is enough simply to diagnose a posterior fractureThe ribs, the symptoms of which differ somewhat from the anterior and lateral types. Firstly, it is rarely accompanied by respiratory disorders, and secondly, it is only for the patient with such trauma to take a horizontal position, as the pain subsides.
• Oral bleeding caused by trauma to the chest.

Rib fracture: treatment

At home, it is possible to treat only simple fractures,that is, in the case when isolated fractures of one or both of the ribs did not cause internal bleeding. The patient is prescribed a sparing regimen and complete rest, and the ribs themselves are fixed with a pressure bandage. In the case of a complicated fracture of one or more ribs, the patient is subject to prompt hospitalization. The severity of the fracture is determined diagnostically with the help of a chest X-ray, and a full investigation of the internal organs of the affected area is also prescribed by the doctor.