History

Description of the prehospital scene by paramedics can provide important clues to the possibility of rib fractures. After motor vehicle collisions, deformation of the steering wheel and activation of seat belts and airbags have been associated with rib injuries.

Patients with rib fracture frequently complain of pain on inspiration and dyspnea.

Rib fractures have been reported after coughing spells without other significant trauma.^[25]

Athletes with high-force, recurrent movements of the arms (eg, discus throwers) have had stress fractures of the upper and middle ribs.^[42]

Consider nonaccidental trauma in pediatric cases, and take an appropriate history for that diagnosis.

Physical

Tenderness on palpation, crepitus, and chest wall deformity are common findings of rib fracture.

Paradoxical chest wall excursion with inspiration is seen with flail chest. A flail chest occurs when a large segment of ribs is not attached to the spine. These ribs are broken in at least 2 places on each rib. The paradoxical movement occurs because the middle section of the rib between the 2 fracture sites moves in response to intrathoracic pressure changes not intercostal muscle contractions. With flail chest, the detached segment of the chest wall is pulled into the chest cavity during inspiration and pushed outward during expiration. This abnormal motion increases the work of breathing and compromises respiratory function and may necessitate intubation and ventilatory support.

Specific signs of ventilatory insufficiency include cyanosis, tachypnea, retractions, and use of accessory muscles for ventilation. Less specific signs include anxiety and agitation. Bruising near the fracture site is uncommon in pediatric rib fractures and, in one study, was seen in only 9.1% of patients.^[26]

If fracture of the lower ribs is suspected, assess the patient for abdominal tenderness and costal margin tenderness, which could raise suspicion for injury to intra-abdominal organs.^{[43, 44]}

Differential Diagnoses

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Media Gallery

Aortic injury is closely associated with a widening of greater than 8 cm measured at the widest points of the mediastinum on an upright anteroposterior chest radiograph.
Anteroposterior (AP) radiograph of an elderly female patient with severe left chest wall pain after a minor fall. This image demonstrates a left lateral rib fracture (arrow) that is not seen on the standard AP chest radiograph.
Axial computed tomography image of the chest in a patient with both anterior and posterior thoracic injuries. A fracture of the sternum (white arrow) and a posterior left rib fracture (yellow arrow) are present.
Right rib radiograph in a 48-year-old male who presented with severe right posterior chest wall pain following a fall. This image demonstrates 2 fractures of the right chest wall (white arrows).

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Author

Sarah L Melendez, MD Fellow in Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children

Sarah L Melendez, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Association, Emergency Medicine Residents' Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Christopher I Doty, MD, MAAEM, FAAEM, FACEP Tenured Professor of Emergency Medicine, University of Kentucky College of Medicine; Vice Chair of Education, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center

Christopher I Doty, MD, MAAEM, FAAEM, FACEP is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, Council of Residency Directors in Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Received salary from Medscape for employment. for: Medscape.

Eric L Legome, MD Professor and Chair, Department of Emergency Medicine, Mount Sinai St Lukes and Mount Sinai West; Vice Chair of Academic Affairs, Department of Emergency Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Eric L Legome, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma, New York American College of Emergency Physicians, Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Trevor John Mills, MD, MPH Chief of Emergency Medicine, Veterans Affairs Northern California Health Care System; Professor of Emergency Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California, Davis, School of Medicine

Trevor John Mills, MD, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Acknowledgements

Michelle Ervin, MD Chair, Department of Emergency Medicine, Howard University Hospital

Michelle Ervin, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Association, National Medical Association, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Laurie K Mahoney, MD, FAAEM Attending Physician, Department of Emergency Medicine, Long Island College Hospital, Brooklyn

Laurie K Mahoney, MD, FAAEM is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Emergency Medicine, and American College of Emergency Physicians

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.