Last Updated on August 9, 2022
Presentation
• Patient presented to ED post trauma
History Taking
Chest pain
• Site: at the site of rib fracture post trauma
• Onset: post trauma
• Severity: pain score
Relevant history
• Is patient a smoker?
Physical Examination
• Is patient tachypnoeic?
• Chest spring positive at rib fracture site
Investigations
Blood
• ABG
Imaging
• Chest X rays – frontal view, oblique view
• CT thorax
Management
Conservative treatment
• Oxygenation
• Pain management
• Incentive spirometry
Some Important Points during Clerking / Referring
- Mechanism of injury
- Clinical findings
- SpO2 on arrival?
- ABG?
- Chest X-rays: any oblique CXR done?
Notes
• Middle ribs (4 to 10) are most susceptible to injury from blunt trauma
• Superior ribs fracture suggests trauma involving significant force and the potential for injury to major vessels and lung parenchyma
Source: Initial evaluation and management of rib fractures, UpToDate