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A rib fracture, which refers to a damaged bone in the rib cage, can happen due to various reasons, ranging from a simple cough to a severe injury. While car accidents, sports injuries, and other types of trauma are frequent causes of rib fractures, it is also possible to suffer a broken rib without experiencing any injury.
A rib fracture is often described as non-displaced or displaced. Non-displaced fractures are fractured bones, but the pieces were not shifted far enough during the break to be out of alignment. Whereas, with a displaced fracture, the fragments of the bone migrated so far apart that a gap formed around the fracture.
In contrast to many other types of bone fractures, a rib fracture typically responds well to rest, ice, and breathing exercises. Healing of a rib fracture usually requires at least one month. Surgery to fix a rib fracture is uncommon unless the injury that cracked the rib harmed the internal organs. A fractured bone’s sharp edge can injure major blood arteries, lungs, and other organs.
Symptoms
Symptoms of a broken rib include:
- Pain which worsens with:
- Taking a deep breath
- Pressure on the damage rib, usually when coughing
- Movement of chest or upper body, such as twisting or bending
- Bruising or discoloration of the skin
- Tenderness
Although it is possible to recover from a rib fracture at home, it is important to note that it can also lead to life-threatening complications. Therefore, it is crucial to seek medical attention or go to the emergency room if there is tenderness and pain around the ribs and chest area, or if breathing becomes difficult.
When a person feels a pressure, fullness, or a squeezing sensation in the middle of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or if the discomfort extends beyond the chest to the shoulder or arm. Immediate medical attention is necessary. The following signs and symptoms may indicate a heart attack.
Causes
Fractured ribs are commonly caused by anything slamming the chest. This includes vehicle accident, falls, sports injuries, and child abuse. Golf and rowing, or coughing hard and long can also break the rib due to repeated impact from these activities.
Risk factors
There are several factors that increases the risk of getting a broken rib, such as:
- Osteoporosis. This condition is characterized by decreased bone mass and strength which raises the chance of sudden and unexpected bone fractures.
- Sports. Athletes who participate in contact sports are more susceptible to broken ribs. Contact sports, such as hockey or football increase the chance of chest injury.
- Cancer in a rib. Cancer patients have increased susceptibility to fracture due weakening of bones.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of a broken rib often starts with a physical examination. It involves gently touching on the ribs, listening to the lungs, and observing how the rib cage moves while breathing. To confirm and further examine the fracture, imaging tests may be required, such as:
- X-ray. An X-ray can confirm rib fractures or other fractures and reveal how badly the bones have been affected. It can also aid in the diagnosis of a collapsed lung. X-rays use low doses of radiation to reveal the bones. Yet, X-rays may not reveal a new break, especially if the bone is simply cracked.
- CT scan. CT scans also make it easier to detect soft tissue and blood vessel damage. It is beneficial in determining the extent of bone injury prior to surgery. A CT scan provides a more detailed image of the bones and surrounding tissue than an X-ray.
- MRI. An MRI can provide a complete view of the injury to the bones and the surrounding area, including damages to the soft tissues. It can also assist in locating tiny breaks.
- Bone scan. A small dose of radioactive material is put into the bloodstream during a bone scan. It gathers in the bones, especially when a bone is mending, and is identified by a scanner. This is useful for inspecting stress fractures. A bone can crack as a result of recurrent trauma, such as coughing over extended periods of time.
Treatment
The degree of the original break determines how the rib fracture is treated. The broken bones must mend together. The majority of broken ribs heal on their own after six weeks. Reduced activity and regular icing of the affected area can aid in healing and pain management. If any of the organs were damaged as a result of the trauma, it might necessitate hospital stay.
- Medicines: Management of pain related to rib fracture is critical to recovery. Pain control with over-the-counter NSAIDs such as aspirin or ibuprofen can be used.
- Therapy: While on recovery, the doctor may suggest doing some breathing exercises or coughing on purpose every few hours. These activities can help with breathing more deeply. This prevents pneumonia by keeping the lungs and chest working normally. Using a pillow to support the injured ribs during breathing exercises will help alleviate any pain.
- Surgery: In most cases, surgery is not necessary for a broken rib, unless there is significant internal damage or the bones do not heal correctly due to complications. Generally, broken ribs can be treated without surgery.
For severe rib fractures, a procedure called internal fixation may be necessary. During this procedure, a doctor may insert pieces of metal into the broken bone to prevent movement while it heals. In some cases, the doctor may also need to realign the broken bones to their correct position before securing them with the metal pieces, allowing them to heal and fuse together.
In cases the broken rib is severely displaced or the bone is not healing as it should, bone grafting may be advised. To repair the damaged bone, additional bone tissue, usually from another part of the body, is inserted. Following that, internal fixation may be done to hold the parts of the bone together as it regrows.
