Video - Rib fracture: Nursing

A rib fracture is a break or crack in one or more of the bones that make up the rib cage. Rib fractures can occur in one or more ribs as a result of direct trauma or repetitive injury. Risk factors include osteoporosis, engagement in contact sports, malignant bone tumors, and older age.

Symptoms of rib fractures include pain that gets worse with breathing, moving, coughing, or sneezing; as well as shallow breathing. Complications include damage to other internal organs from splintered ribs, pneumonia, or flail chest. The diagnosis involves history, physical assessment, chest X-ray, chest CT or bone scans. Some rib fractures can heal on their own, while others may require surgical stabilization of the displaced ribs.