Rib fractures

Rib fractures may be due to blunt force injury, falls, non-accidental injury, CPR, or more rarely, sporting activities, or metastatic lesions and primary bone tumours.

Among infants aged 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, as well as possible non-thoracic injuries.

Chest radiography or computed tomography are the first-line imaging modalities in patients presenting with blunt chest trauma.

Treatment includes pain control, lung expansion exercises and/or ventilatory support, physiotherapy and mobilisation, and treatment of concomitant injuries. Surgical stabilisation is necessary in some patients.

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

A rib fracture is a break in one of the rib bones of the thoracic skeleton. Rib fractures are common injuries that most frequently are due to blunt force trauma (including falls and non-accidental injury), but can also occur as a result of aggressive cardiopulmonary resuscitation, athletic activities, or primary bone tumours and metastatic lesions ('pathological fractures'). Rib fractures can be relatively benign, but often may be a marker of concomitant injuries such as pneumothorax, haemopneumothorax, pulmonary contusions, flail chest, and possible non-thoracic injuries. An increased number of fractured ribs correlates with increased morbidity and mortality.