Fracture of the rib: symptoms and treatment

Trauma doctors say that the rib fractures are the most common chest damage. If you look at the statistics, you can see for yourself. Yes, one seventh of all applications to the trauma center is made up of complaints of a broken rib. Symptoms may be different, but one thing is clear: the treatment of such a trauma is a long and time consuming process. It should be noted that the rib fractures very rarely pose a threat to the life of the patient. However, it would be absurd to say that they do not cause any harm to the internal organs. Often broken ribs are accompanied by damage to the lungs, diaphragm and even the heart, not to mention the vessels. Such situations require immediate hospitalization of the victim.

Anatomy

Before describing the fracture of the rib, the symptoms and treatment of this trauma, we turn to the anatomical structure of man. As you know, the chest is located in the upper part of the trunk. It performs the role of a kind of shield, hiding the insides and closing them from external injuries. The thorax consists of twelve ribs. From the front, they are joined together by vessels and muscles, and in the dorsal part - with vertebrae. Due to cartilaginous tissues, the thorax has the ability to expand (for example, when a person inhales). Inside the thorax is covered with a membrane consisting of connective tissue and pleura. The latter consists of two layers, which can be damaged if a person has a fractured rib.

How does this happen?

Why does accidental injury end up in the fact that a person has a broken rib? Symptoms of it we describe a little later, but now we list the main reasons. They may be of a compression nature or consist of a stroke or a fall. By the way, the majority in general hardly believe that they have broken an edge, and up to the last they continue to insist that it's all about a simple bruise. However, everything is not so simple: this kind of damage is fraught with the accumulation of blood between the layers of the pleura (scientifically this is called "hemothorax"). In addition, there may be another complication - pneumothorax, that is, the accumulation of air in the lungs, which can not come out because of compression.

Fracture of the rib: symptoms

Damage is easy enough to diagnose - it is accompanied by vivid signs. Among them, one can call sharp pain in the chest, which increases with the slightest movement and even coughing; The inability to take a deep breath (the causes of this phenomenon are described above); Unevenness of the injured area. If you gently press on the chest, you can hear a characteristic crunch.

Treatment

What to do if the rib is broken? Of course, call an ambulance. Before her arrival, you need to help the victim: put a tight bandage on the rib area and make sure that it remains completely immobile. Upon arrival in the hospital, first of all, an x-ray is done. Then a bandage or corset will be placed in the department of traumatology. The cast is not suitable here, because the chest is not an arm or leg, it needs mobility. After this, all treatment will consist in the correct fixation of the broken rib. As a rule, the fusion takes about a month.