Broken rib: hallmark

A fracture or fracture is an injury that can occur to any bone structure in any part of the body. One of the common body parts affected by this condition, namely the chest, to be precise at the ribs. So, what are the characteristics, causes, and treatment for broken ribs? Here's the complete information for you.

What is a broken rib?

A rib fracture is a common injury that occurs when one or more ribs are broken or fractured. The ribs themselves are the part of the bone that wraps around the chest and consists of 12 pairs. The function of the ribs is to protect organs in the chest, such as the heart and lungs, and helps humans to breathe.

At the end of the ribs there is a thick tissue (rib cartilage) that connects the ribs to the sternum. Well, this rib cartilage fracture is also often referred to as a rib fracture, even though the rib itself is not broken.

The types of fractures that occur in the ribs can nondisplaced fracture (a condition when the bone does not move or move out of place) or displaced fracture (the broken bone shifts or goes out of place). In most cases, the fractured rib does not slide out of place and can heal on its own in a month or two.

However, in severe cases, the fracture or fracture of the ribs can shift or occur in three or more bones at different places. (flail chest). The condition is more at risk of causing damage to surrounding organs and blood vessels and causing difficulty breathing.

Traits and symptoms of a rib fracture

Broken ribs are sometimes invisible or visible from the outside. However, generally you will feel certain symptoms if you experience a fracture of the ribs. The following are the characteristics, signs, or symptoms of a rib fracture that usually occurs:

• Severe pain in the chest, especially when breathing, coughing, bending or turning, and pressing on the sternum and around the bones where the injury occurred.
• Swelling or tenderness around the ribs that are injured.
• Sometimes there is bruising on the skin around the broken bone.
• There was a cracking sound as the bone broke.

In addition to the above symptoms, usually people with broken ribs will have difficulty breathing. When you have trouble breathing due to a fracture in your ribs, you will generally experience several symptoms, such as:

• Experiencing shortness of breath.
• Feeling anxious, restless, or afraid.
• Experiencing headaches.
• Feel dizzy, tired, or drowsy.

If you feel the signs or symptoms of a broken rib above, you should immediately see a doctor, especially if you have recently suffered an injury due to a hard blow to the chest. Also consult a doctor if you are concerned about certain symptoms in the chest area that are not mentioned above.

Causes and risk factors for rib fracture

A common cause of a rib fracture is direct pressure or impact to the chest. This stress usually occurs when you have a motor vehicle accident, fall, child abuse or abuse, or a collision while playing sports.

However, fractures of the ribs can also occur due to repeated trauma from sports, such as golf and rowing, prolonged severe coughing, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) which can crush the chest.

Apart from these causes, there are also several factors that can increase a person's risk of having a rib fracture. These risk factors are:

• Suffering from osteoporosis, which is a condition that causes bones to weaken so they are more prone to fractures.
• Athletes or playing contact sports, such as hockey or football, which increase the risk of chest trauma, or other types of sports that involve repetitive movements, such as rowing or golf.
• Lesions or abnormal tissue (cancer) in the ribs, which can weaken the bone and make it more prone to fracture with just light pressure, such as coughing.

Possible complications of rib fracture

Fractured ribs can damage blood vessels and organs in them. In this condition, complications due to rib fracture are very likely. Here are some of the complications that may arise from a broken rib:

• The aorta is torn or punctured

A sharp fracture in one of the first three ribs or the top can tear the aorta or other blood vessels around it. The damage to these blood vessels can cause serious bleeding.

• Pneumothorax

If the fractured rib is in the center of the chest, the sharp fracture can puncture or tear the lung and cause the lung to collapse (pneumothorax). Pneumothorax is a condition when there is a buildup of air in the space between the lungs and the chest wall (pleural cavity).

This condition makes it difficult for the lungs to expand when breathing, causing shortness of breath and chest pain in the sufferer.

• Pneumonia

Difficulty breathing and coughing in people with rib fractures can cause mucus or phlegm buildup in the lungs, which can lead to infections, such as pneumonia. Reporting from The Korean Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, pneumonia is the most common complication of rib fracture, with the number of cases reaching 70 percent.

• Tearing of the spleen, liver, or kidneys

If the fractured rib is at the bottom, sharp fractures of the bone can tear organs under the chest, such as the spleen, liver, or kidneys.

However, this complication is very rare because the lower ribs are more flexible than the ribs above and in the middle, so they fracture less frequently. Although rare, this condition can cause serious damage to all three of these organs.

How to diagnose a rib fracture

To diagnose a rib fracture, your doctor will ask you what symptoms you are experiencing and how the injury occurred. After that, the doctor will perform a physical examination by gently pressing on the ribs.

Your doctor may also listen to your lungs and watch the movement of your ribs as you breathe, to identify if you are having difficulty breathing. After that, your doctor may order one or more of the following imaging tests to confirm the diagnosis:

• X-ray. Not all fractures of the ribs can be seen on X-rays, especially if they are just cracks. However, X-rays can also help doctors diagnose lung collapse.
• CT scan. This test is generally needed if you have complex rib injuries, such as injuries to soft tissues and blood vessels, which cannot be detected by X-rays.
• MRI. This test is generally performed to detect damage to the soft tissues and organs around the ribs or to aid in the detection of fractures of the finer ribs.
• Scan bone. This test is useful for detecting the types of stress fractures in the ribs that are more common due to repetitive motion or trauma.

Treatment for broken ribs

Most rib fractures heal on their own in three to six weeks. You only need to rest and limit activities to help the healing process.

However, you still need to consult a doctor to see how severe your condition is. The severity determines whether you need specific fracture treatments to help your rib fracture heal.

However, in general, medicine and treatment from doctors for fractures in the ribs, namely:

• Drugs

One of the goals of treatment for a rib fracture is to relieve the pain you are experiencing. The reason is, the pain that appears can make it difficult for you to take deep breaths and increase your risk of developing pneumonia.

Some drugs that doctors usually give, such as paracetamol, ibuprofen, naproxen, or other oral drugs that are stronger. If oral medications aren't helping enough, your doctor may recommend injections of a long-lasting anesthetic around the nerves that support the ribs.

• Therapy

After your pain is under control, his general practitioner will ask you to undergo therapy. During therapy, you will receive breathing exercises to help you breathe more deeply. The reason is, shortness of breath can increase the risk of pneumonia.

• Operation

Surgery is a very rare medical procedure used to treat fractures in the ribs. Fracture surgery is usually only recommended for injuries that are very complex and severe, such as sustained flail chest or conditions that make breathing so difficult that a breathing apparatus is needed.

In this condition, surgery is performed by attaching plates or screws to realign the bones and hold them in their proper position. With this operation, the patient is expected to be able to breathe properly again, thus helping the healing process and avoiding complications.

Home remedies that can help with rib fracture recovery

Apart from getting medical advice from a doctor, you can help the healing process of a rib fracture by making the following lifestyle changes and home remedies:

• Apply ice to the fractured rib area regularly for the first few days after the injury to help reduce pain and swelling.
• Rest and if necessary take time off from work.
• As much as possible make light movements of the shoulder to help breathe and clear mucus from the lungs.
• While you are recovering, it is important to cough or take as deep breaths as possible at least once an hour. If you are about to cough, hold a pillow against your chest to reduce pain.
• Make an effort to sleep better at night.
• If your ribs are fractured but you don't injure your neck or back, it's best to lie on your side to help you breathe more deeply.

In addition to home remedies that can aid in healing, you also need to avoid things that can slow down recovery, such as:

• Wrap the area around the chest with a bandage, splint, or other wrapping device. This can actually make it difficult for you to breathe and increase your risk of developing pneumonia.
• Don't lie down or stay still for long periods of time.
• Don't lift heavy objects.
• Don't do any exercise that makes your pain worse.
• Don't smoke or eat certain foods for fractures, which can slow down the healing process.