Rib fracture: symptoms, causes, treatment and complications

A rib fracture is an injury that can occur when a very strong force causes the rib to rupture or crack, causing symptoms such as intense pain when breathing, coughing or moving the chest, difficulty breathing and swelling in the area.

In some cases, a rib fracture can also cause some complications, such as pneumonia, hemothorax, which are bleeding; pneumothorax, which is the escape of air from the lung to the chest; or injuries to other organs, for example.

If a rib fracture is suspected, it is recommended to consult an orthopedist or general practitioner for a complete assessment and indication of appropriate treatment, which can include the use of analgesics to relieve pain, physiotherapy and, in some cases, the surgery.

Main symptoms

The main symptoms of rib fracture are:

• Severe pain in the chest, which worsens when breathing, coughing, sneezing or moving the chest;
• Difficulty breathing;
• Swelling or tenderness in the affected region;
• Noises when touching or moving the chest;
• Involuntary contraction of the rib muscles;
• Redness in the area of ​​the lesion;
• Change in the shape of the ribs.

The presence of symptoms such as shortness of breath, severe chest pain, fever or coughing up blood may indicate damage to other organs. In these cases, it is recommended to seek emergency medical care to begin appropriate treatment and avoid complications.

How the diagnosis is made

The diagnosis of a rib fracture is made by an orthopedist, or general practitioner, through a physical examination, evaluation of the symptoms presented and the person’s health history.

To confirm the risk of rib fracture, make an appointment with the orthopedist in the region closest to you:

In addition, the doctor may also order some imaging tests, such as computed tomography, ultrasound or X-ray, especially when suspected of multiple rib fractures or damage to blood vessels or other organs, such as the liver, lungs and spleen.

Possible causes

The main causes of rib fractures are:

• Car, motorcycle or bicycle accidents;
• Falls;
• Sports injuries;
• Crush injuries;
• Intense cough;

Furthermore, rib fractures can also occur in people with osteoporosis or who have some type of cancer that weakens the bones.

Because their ribs are more elastic than adults, rib fractures in babies and children are less common. Therefore, when a child has a rib fracture, it may indicate possible child abuse.

What is the treatment like?

Rib fracture treatment must be carried out by an orthopedist and varies depending on the severity of the injury. In cases of a simple fracture, the doctor usually recommends the use of analgesic medications, such as paracetamol and dipyrone, to relieve pain; applying ice packs to the area to reduce swelling and inflammation; and rest.

In some cases, your doctor may also do an intercostal nerve block, which is an injection of medication under the rib to help relieve pain.

When treatment with medication does not improve or in cases of more serious fractures, the doctor may recommend surgery.

Physiotherapy and breathing exercises are also indicated for the treatment of rib fractures, as they help to preserve muscle strength and expand the chest joints.

The compression band or immobilizer for rib fractures are no longer recommended, as they can make breathing difficult, causing pneumonia, for example.

Rib fracture recovery time

In most cases, rib fracture recovery time is about three to six weeks. However, the recovery time for this fracture may be longer if the person has other internal injuries.

Other care

Other precautions that are also indicated during the treatment of rib fractures are:

• Walking and sometimes moving your shoulders to help with breathing and eliminating mucus from the lungs;
• Avoid staying in bed during the day;
• The first night, sleep on your back, with a pillow under your knees and another under your head;
• Avoid movements that cause pressure on the ribs, such as pushing, pulling or lifting heavy objects;
• Avoid activities that worsen the injury, such as sports.

In addition, it is also recommended to do slow, deep breathing exercises and cough gently, every 2 hours, holding a pillow or blanket against your chest.

Possible complications

Possible complications related to rib fractures are pneumonia; injuries to the liver, heart, kidney or spleen; accute breathing insufficiency; and pneumothorax, which is the escape of air from the lung to the chest. Understand more about pneumothorax.

Furthermore, a rib fracture can also cause hemothorax, which is the accumulation of blood in the pleura, which is the region located between the lungs and the rib cage.