What are the symptoms of rib fractures or chest contusions?
Rib fractures or rib contusions are usually associated with a fall, blow to the chest, road traffic accident, or injury from contact sports. Sometimes a rib fracture can be caused by a severe cough, or spontaneous (pathological) fractures can occur in people with cancer (bone metastases) or osteoporosis.
Symptoms:
* Feeling or hearing a bone breaking or cracking sound in the chest
* Severe chest pain caused by breathing or coughing
* Shortness of breath
* Swelling, tenderness, or bruising under the skin in the area of the affected rib.
How are rib fractures diagnosed?
Your family doctor, emergency room doctor, traumatologist, or other specialist may refer you for a chest X-ray and/or a chest computed tomography (CT/CT) scan. The choice of imaging method depends on the mechanism of injury/trauma, symptoms, and comorbidities.
Rib fractures are usually diagnosed on a chest X-ray, and the type of fracture is usually clearly visible on the X-ray.
The sharp end of a rib fracture can pierce the lung, causing air to leak into the chest. This condition is called a pneumothorax, which is potentially life-threatening. Other imaging methods, such as computed tomography (CT), also diagnose rib fractures and pneumothorax (air from the lungs leaking into the chest cavity). A chest CT scan is a more sensitive imaging method for identifying these problems. A CT scan is also useful for determining whether there is damage to the lung, which is medically called a pulmonary contusion (a bruised lung).
The term “rib contusion”, “chest contusion”, “chest contusion” is used if the ribs are not injured. Rib pain caused by a contusion occurs from a strain or damage to the soft tissues and muscles of the chest wall. It should be remembered that the rib is also very well innervated and there is a nerve on its lower edge.
It should be remembered that there are no unambiguous symptoms (signs) or subjective sensations, and in order to exclude serious chest trauma, damage to internal organs (lungs), rib fracture, multiple rib fractures (multiple rib fractures), imaging examinations (X-ray or computed tomography) are necessary!
Rib Fractures. How do you treat a simple rib fracture without dislocation (displacement of the bone fragments) or a rib contusion?
Bruised ribs heal in the same way as broken ribs, but a contusion takes less time to heal than a rib fracture. It may not sound as serious as a broken rib, but a rib contusion can still be very painful.
Most patients with simple rib fractures or contusions are treated on an outpatient basis, or at home. Simple fractures without dislocation usually heal within 3 to 6 weeks. Most of the time, the worst pain lasts for about 2 weeks.
* Pain relief. Pain relief is important, especially in the first few weeks after an injury. There are many options for pain relief, including over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen (Paracetamol, Tylenol, etc.), ibuprofen (Ibumetin, Ibustar, Nurofen, etc.), or naproxen (Nalgedol); and stronger medications such as narcotic pain relievers.
It is very important to provide adequate pain relief. If pain makes it difficult to take a deep enough breath, pneumonia (inflammation of the lungs, pneumonia) may develop.
* The rib immobilization splint (CHRISOFIX) is an effective, patient-friendly, easy-to-use device for the treatment of rib contusions (chest contusions) and non-displaced (no bone fragments displaced) rib fractures. It provides rapid pain relief and increases the ability to breathe normally. The rib immobilization splint reduces paradoxical chest movements, which are usually associated with severe pain, and reduces the risk of late complications.
Doctors no longer prescribe or recommend the use of rigid chest compression corsets for rib contusions or rib fractures because they immobilize the entire chest and can restrict breathing, leading to pneumonia and other life-threatening conditions.
The world-patented innovation, the Chrisofix rib immobilization splint, reduces rib movement only in the area of the injury (without restricting chest movement elsewhere). Less pain helps the patient breathe deeply enough to maintain adequate lung ventilation. This can reduce the need for painkillers, reduce the likelihood of serious complications and the need for hospitalization, and accelerate faster recovery and return to work.
In complex cases or polytrauma patients, treatment may vary. These patients are usually treated in hospitals under the supervision of trauma specialists and thoracic (thoracic) surgeons.
How to properly apply the Chrisofix rib immobilization splint
For rib fractures, chest contusions, after chest surgery, to prevent "paradoxical breathing" in multiple rib fractures. Immediate pain relief. Accelerates the healing process. Specially developed medical device. Perforated and breathable medical materials.
See the attached video instruction!