Rib fracture treatment
introduction
As Broken rib (Rib fracture) becomes the fraction of the bony or gnarled Share a rib designated.
The most common cause of broken ribs is one massive violence, especially by one Chest trauma (Chest trauma). A rib fracture occurs spontaneous on or through a very low level of force that is insufficient to explain the break, other underlying diseases such as osteoporosis or Bone metastases be considered.
With less force, it can only result in a bruised rib, the symptoms of which, however, can hardly be distinguished from those of a broken rib at first.
Rib fractures are common. In most cases the healing takes place relatively quickly and without complications. Nevertheless, the patient often has to be on sick leave for several days or weeks, depending on the professional activity.
The diagnosis of a broken rib can often go through Scan be asked. The patient complains about strong painwhich get worse with pressure and get worse with movement grinding noises (Crepitations) audible.
Larger displacements (Dislocations) can with the help of a X-ray of Rib cage (thorax) can be determined.
Fractions where the Breaklines not shifted are often only with that Ultrasonic representable and are often referred to as bruise dismissed.
It is also important to produce an ultrasound of the Abdomen, of Pulmonary membrane (Pleura) and des Heart to rule out life-threatening internal injuries.
Conservative treatment
A broken rib normally heals on its own within around twelve weeks without any problems. This prognosis applies to simple fractures of one or two ribs or stable fractures of three or more ribs on the same side of the chest (Serial rib fracture).
The treatment of such broken ribs is usually conservative (non-operational). A simple rib fracture usually does not require any special therapy, as the ribs are embedded in the muscles and ligaments of the chest (thorax) are fixed.
The patient must be informed about his illness and the course of several weeks. The pain is treated with pain medication such as ibuprofen, tramadol or novalgin.
If the pain is very severe, a nerve block can be performed. The patient receives injections with a local anesthetic (local anesthetic) in the area of the nerve that supplies the affected rib.
Adequate pain therapy is of particular importance in the treatment of a broken rib so that the patient can breathe in normally deeply despite the rib injury. If the person concerned falls into shallow breathing due to pain, they are prone to infections of the respiratory tract and lungs.
For this reason, it is no longer common to immobilize the rib fragments with a plaster cast, bandaging or plating. Special breathing training can make sense in this case.
Any irritable cough that may exist should also be treated, for example in the form of Paracodin drops. If breathing is severely impaired, as in a serial rib fracture, artificial ventilation may be necessary. In the case of a serial rib fracture, the oxygen content of the blood should therefore always be measured to check whether enough oxygen can be absorbed by the lungs and circulated in the body.
Read more on this topic at: What to do if you have a broken rib
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My name is dr. Nicolas Gumpert. I am a specialist in orthopedics and the founder of .
Various television programs and print media report regularly about my work. On HR television you can see me every 6 weeks live on "Hallo Hessen".
But now enough is indicated ;-)
In order to be able to treat successfully in orthopedics, a thorough examination, diagnosis and a medical history are required.
In our very economic world in particular, there is too little time to thoroughly grasp the complex diseases of orthopedics and thus initiate targeted treatment.
I don't want to join the ranks of "quick knife pullers".
The aim of any treatment is treatment without surgery.
Which therapy achieves the best results in the long term can only be determined after looking at all of the information (Examination, X-ray, ultrasound, MRI, etc.) be assessed.
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For more information about myself, see Lumedis - Orthopedists.
Operative treatment
If the rib fracture is more complicated, surgical treatment is necessary. The fracture ends are then through Screws and plates fixed. Such a supply of the broken rib often shortens the healing time the injury. The stabilization reduces the mobility of the fragments, so that new bone material can be formed more quickly.
An indication for such a surgical procedure can be a unstable chest wall after a serial rib fracture. Even if the break ends postponed to have (Dislocation) an operation may be necessary if a Positioning in the starting position (Reduction) is not possible from the outside.
Another reason for surgery is when the rib fracture causes the internal organs of Abdomen and chest are injured. A displaced fracture can result in injury to the lung tissue Pneumothorax come. Here, one of the lungs collapses and is no longer functional.
In this case the lung can be unfolded again briefly by inserting a small tube (drainage) in the Pleura is introduced. Via this tube, the incorrectly introduced into the pleura can now Air can be extracted and the lungs unfold again.
Are also feared Bleeding into the lungs or chest. Here the source of bleeding must be found and surgically corrected.
Also injuries to the spleen represent a dangerous complication due to the high risk of bleeding. The spleen can pass through the ribs impaled or ruptured on its own (cracked) be. Here too is a Finding the source of the bleeding and a operative care vital to the injury.
Depending on the height of the rib fracture, that too heart, the liver or the Kidneys get hurt. At least suspicion An appropriate examination should be carried out for an organ injury and the damaged organ should be treated surgically.
Prognosis / fracture healing
Fractures of the ribs usually heal relatively - even in the case of fractures or series of ribs fractures quickly and without problems. The different types of rib fracture take different amounts of time to heal completely. Especially the exact localization the fracture is crucial here.
Roughly speaking, it takes time about twelve weeksuntil a rib fracture has completely healed.
So-called Phagocytes first break down the destroyed bone tissue. Then the ends of the fracture grow together again in bony form. First, the gap between the ends of the bones is through Bone substitute material (callus) filled, that less resilient and resistant is.
Although the pain usually decreases significantly during this three to four week phase, it is important that the patient relaxes Take care of your body to avoid re-injuring the rib. Gradually, the bone substitute material is replaced by real, robust bone.
in case of an postponed (dislocated) Fracture, in which the fracture ends are not regularly on top of each other, the fracture healing is usually delayed.
The patient's recovery depends critically on Complications and accompanying injuries like one Pneumothorax or the injuries of Blood vessels or internal organs from.
As a complication of the healing of a broken rib, a Intercostal neuralgia occur. It results from the injury to the neurovascular bundle that lies under each rib.
