Rib fracture is the most common chest injury. There are many reasons for its occurrence. Most often, this injury is the result of a fall from a height. A symptom of a rib fracture may indicate not only damage to the bone itself, but also trauma to the internal organs. There are times when such an injury is fatal, so you need to take it seriously and not engage in self-medication.
The main symptom of a rib fracture
It is easy to guess that the main symptom of a rib fracture will be severe pain. Its strengthening is noted during a sigh and during the movement. Especially pain will be felt when turning the chest to the side. The victim's breathing is shallow and shallow. Coughing will cause a severe attack of acute pain. In order to at least slightly reduce the suffering of a person, he needs to ensure complete peace. To do this, he must take a sitting position, his head slightly tilted back. Another symptom of a rib fracture - bone crepitus - can be detected during palpation of the affected area. It manifests itself in the form of a crunch that parts of a broken bone produce. It is noteworthy that injuries in the front and side of the chest are more difficult to tolerate. They are often accompanied by respiratory failure. Fractures of the ribs in the back are not so pronounced.
Symptoms of Multiple Fractures
A bruise or fracture of the rib cannot be compared with a widespread trauma, in which several bones are injured at once. In this case, a severe deterioration in the condition of the victim is noted, in addition to the severe pain syndrome, difficulty in shallow breathing and an
increased pulse are detected
. The skin turns pale, becomes cyanotic. The patient is trying to occupy an optimal comfortable position and at the same time tries to be motionless. He avoids the slightest movements and as if unconsciously freezes. Further examination of the damaged area almost always reveals another symptom of a rib fracture - bruising. In addition, swelling is easy to notice. Palpation with multiple fractures is painful and reveals crepitation of air, it looks like a slight creaking.
Pneumothorax for rib fracture
In a victim, the appearance of pneumothorax will indicate a general deterioration in the state against the background of increasing shortness of breath. In the affected area, respiration will not be detected.
Hemoptysis can also indicate
lung damage . This is a very serious symptom that requires immediate medical attention. These complications (hemothorax and pneumothorax), as a rule, appear within a short period of time after receiving damage. A few days after the fracture, another equally dangerous syndrome may occur - post-traumatic pneumonia. This complication is mainly prone to older people. In this case, a fracture of the ribs and sternum will be marked by a special severity of the course and will be difficult to treat.