People with osteoporosis can fracture a rib by having a violent coughing episode. Trauma to the ribs or chest can also cause soft tissue injuries involving the muscles and cartilage. For example, forceful twisting or coughing can strain or pull the intercostal muscles, which allow for the flexibility of the rib cage.
Also, pregnant women can be more susceptible to rib fracture and injury , particularly in the third trimester, due to the growing uterus. They will also perform a physical examination to assess the site of the injury and listen to the heart and lungs. The doctor may perform a chest X-ray with emphasis on rib detail to see if a rib bone is broken. However, bruising does not always show up on X-rays. A person might undergo other tests to differentiate a fracture from a muscle or soft tissue injury.
Doctors do not treat bruised or broken ribs in the same manner as a broken arm or leg because rib bones cannot be cast or splinted. Doctors typically leave bruised or broken ribs to heal on their own.
However, in special circumstances, such as when there are multiple fractures or breaks in the rib cage, doctors recommend surgical intervention. Otherwise, the primary goal of treatment for a bruised or broken rib is pain relief. If the pain is severe, a person may not be able to breathe as deeply, which can cause a buildup of mucus in the lungs. Ways to treat bruised and fractured ribs at home include:.
A person can try gently stretching the muscles in the shoulders and chest wall, but it is important to avoid movements that make the pain worse. Usually, rib injuries heal on their own. Bruised and broken ribs heal in a similar way and typically get better within 3—6 weeks. If a person is not feeling better in a few weeks, they should contact their doctor, who may request more testing.
Chest wall injuries, including bruised or broken ribs, are a common cause of chest pain in children. These injuries often result from car accidents, blows, or falls, such as on bicycle handlebars. To promote healing from a bruised or broken rib, encourage the child to rest, use cold and hot packs, give pain relievers as directed, and suggest gentle stretching. Contact the doctor if the child has a fever , trouble breathing, abdominal pain, or dizziness or lightheadedness.
Consult a healthcare provider if these symptoms are present:. 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.
Costochondral separation — the rib is torn loose from the costal cartilage and is detached from the sternum. If you have a more serious injury, you may need additional treatment or possibly surgery. For example, if your lung has been punctured by the sharp end of one of your ribs, you may need to have a procedure done to remove air or blood from inside your chest.
Some people whose ribs are badly injured might need to have them repaired with metal plates, but this is rare. The pain and discomfort from rib injuries can be managed, though a person might need to make some temporary adjustments, even taking time off of work, during the first few days after the injury is sustained. Some patients notice that the pain and tenderness increases at night when they are in bed trying to go to sleep.
In these cases, it can be helpful to avoid lying completely flat. Try sleeping sitting up in a chair to ease the pain.
Upright positions can also help with breathing. When coughing, some people find it helpful to hold a pillow against their chest to absorb the sudden movement and steady the torso. The pain of rib injuries may make a person breathe more shallowly and avoid coughing. However, breathing normally and coughing when the need arises are important for preventing complications.
Doing breathing exercises throughout the day can also help. Reducing or stopping smoking will benefit the healing process after a rib injury, especially if breathing is affected. If you are concerned about your bone health or think you may have a broken rib, call us to set up an appointment.
To schedule an appointment with one of our specialists, call us at Your email address will not be published. Main: 1. UrgentOrtho: BONE Patient Portal. Bill Pay. Our Experts. Chest Anatomy The chest, also called the thorax, contains several key anatomical structures and organs. Bruised Ribs Bruised ribs or a rib contusion occurs following a direct impact to the torso.
Symptoms The most obvious symptom of a bruised rib or contusion will be a sudden pain on impact. Treatment Rib injuries are difficult to treat. Symptoms One of the most persistent symptoms of a broken rib is chest pain when taking a breath. Treatment Simple fractures will usually heal by themselves. Serious Symptoms In some cases, a bruised or broken rib can result in other health conditions that could even be life-threatening.
If a person with a recent bruised or broken rib experiences any of the following symptoms, they should seek medical attention right away: Severe pain that continues to get worse Increasing shortness of breath or trouble breathing High fever Coughing up blood or yellow-green mucus phlegm Diagnosis If your doctor suspects a rib fracture, he will want to get images of your chest.
They can also show other problems, like a collapsed lung. CT Scan: This type of image shows fractures that do not appear on X-rays.
Your doctor will want you to get one if he thinks the X-ray missed something.
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