How much pressure to break a rib

Rib injuries. Actions for this page Listen Print. Summary Read the full fact sheet. On this page. Structure of the ribs Symptoms of rib injuries Blunt force is the common cause of injury Soft tissue injuries Rib fracture Flail chest is a serious injury Risk of serious injury Diagnosis of rib injuries Treatment of rib injuries Where to get help Things to remember.

The ribcage supports the upper body, protects internal organs, including the heart and lungs, and assists with breathing. Rib injuries include bruises, torn cartilage and bone fractures. Chest trauma may also cause life-threatening injuries such as a punctured lung or a ruptured aorta. Common causes of rib injury include motor vehicle accidents and falls. Treatment aims to relieve pain while the injury heals. Structure of the ribs The ribcage consists of 24 curved ribs arranged in 12 pairs.

Each pair is attached to a vertebra in the spine. At the front of the body, the first seven pairs of ribs are attached directly to the sternum breastbone by cartilage known as costal cartilage. The ribcage is supported by ligaments and muscles, including the muscles between the ribs intercostal muscles. These muscles allow the ribcage to expand when you breathe in and to drop when you breathe out. Symptoms of rib injuries The symptoms of rib injuries depend on the type and severity of the injury, but can include: Pain at the injury site Pain when the ribcage flexes — with movement, with a deep breath or when you cough, sneeze or laugh Crunching or grinding sounds crepitus when the injury site is touched or moved Muscle spasms of the ribcage Deformed appearance of the ribcage Breathing difficulties.

Blunt force is the common cause of injury Rib injuries typically occur when the chest is directly hit. Situations that could cause blunt injuries to the ribcage include: Motor vehicle accidents — for example, slamming the chest against the steering wheel Crush injuries — for example, a heavy object landing directly on the chest Sports-related injuries — for example, a heavy tackle Falling from a reasonable height — for example, off a roof or ladder Assault — for example, getting hit by a baseball bat.

Soft tissue injuries Soft tissue of the ribcage includes the intercostal muscles and the costal cartilage. Common injuries include: Bruising — the blood vessels rupture and leak blood into the surrounding tissues. Bruising of the chest wall is a common rib trauma. Intercostal strains — intercostal muscles allow the ribcage to move up and down.

These muscles can be strained by any activity that involves extreme or forceful twisting of the body or swinging of the arms. Sports that commonly cause this type of injury include golf and tennis.

A jagged edge of broken bone can damage major blood vessels or internal organs, such as the lung. In most cases, broken ribs usually heal on their own in one or two months. Adequate pain control is important so that you can continue to breathe deeply and avoid lung complications, such as pneumonia. See your doctor if you have a very tender spot in your rib area that occurs after trauma or if you have difficulty breathing or pain with deep breathing. Seek medical attention immediately if you feel pressure, fullness or a squeezing pain in the center of your chest that lasts for more than a few minutes or pain that extends beyond your chest to your shoulder or arm.

These symptoms can indicate a heart attack. Broken ribs are most commonly caused by direct impacts — such as those from motor vehicle accidents, falls, child abuse or contact sports. Ribs also can be fractured by repetitive trauma from sports like golf and rowing or from severe and prolonged coughing. A broken rib can injure blood vessels and internal organs.

The risk increases with the number of broken ribs. Complications vary depending on which ribs break. Possible complications include:. There is no specific treatment for rib fractures, but various supportive measures can be taken. Simple rib fractures can be managed with pain management alone. Patients are encouraged to use an incentive spirometer, a medical device used to help improve the function of lungs , and control pain with medication as per their physician.

If the pain is not relieved with medication alone other methods of pain relieve may be considered, eg. When patients sustain multiple rib fractures, oxygen support in addition to pain medication is sometimes required. A pneumothorax usually necessitates a procedure to drain the air out of the chest with a chest tube.

A flail chest can significantly affect the mechanics of breathing and may require ventilatory support to improve blood oxygen concentration and possibly repair of the fractures with metal plates.

By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and acknowledge the use of cookies to store information, which may be essential to making our site work properly or enhancing user experience.

Claim CME Credits. Donate Committees Member Directory. General Trauma Information. Rib Fractures The chest cavity contains vital organs and is protected by a bony rib cage. Serfin, MD, W. Join Mailing List. Privacy Policy: By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and acknowledge the use of cookies to store information, which may be essential to making our site work properly or enhancing user experience.