Rib fracture: Difference between revisions

m (Rossdonaldson1 moved page Rib Fracture to Rib fracture)
Line 10: Line 10:
**1st & 2nd rib fractures associated with severe chest trauma and underlying injury
**1st & 2nd rib fractures associated with severe chest trauma and underlying injury
**9th, 10th, 11th rib fractures associated with intra-abdominal injury
**9th, 10th, 11th rib fractures associated with intra-abdominal injury
==Differential Diagnosis==
{{Thoracic trauma DDX}}


=Disposition=
=Disposition=

Revision as of 21:30, 6 December 2014

Background

Multiple Right sided rib fractures
  • Diagnostic goal: detect commonly associated conditions: hemopneumothorax, pulmonary contusion, intra-abdominal injury, major vascular injury
  • Pediatrics: <2 years old with >2 rib fractures = 50% mortality
    • Ribs more flexible in children, so fractures require extreme force
  • Elderly: double the mortality of younger patients

Diagnosis

  • Chest x-ray
    • 1st & 2nd rib fractures associated with severe chest trauma and underlying injury
    • 9th, 10th, 11th rib fractures associated with intra-abdominal injury

Differential Diagnosis

Thoracic Trauma

Disposition

  • Strongly consider admission for more than one rib fracture in elderly patient or patient with preexisting pulmonary disease
    • Difficult for these patients to cough / clear secretions
  • If discharged:
    • Teach how to splint and cough
    • Be liberal with pain medicine
    • Encourage incentive spirometer or tell to blow up balloons
    • Discourage rib belts or straps

See Also

Source

  • Tintinanlli
Retrieved from "https://www.wikem.org/w/index.php?title=Rib_fracture&oldid=26838"