Rib fracture

[Hina Muqadas]

One or more ribs can be fractured due to blunt chest injury.
(See also Overview of Thoracic Trauma.)
Typically, rib fractures result from blunt injury to the chest wall, usually involving a strong force (eg, due to high-speed deceleration, a baseball bat, a major fall); however, sometimes in older patients, only mild or moderate force (eg, in a minor fall) is required. If ≥ 3 adjacent ribs fracture in 2 separate places, the broken segment results in a flail chest.
Concomitant chest injuries may occur, including

Aortic, subclavian, or cardiac injuries (uncommon but can occur with high-speed deceleration, particularly if rib 1 or 2 is fractured)
Splenic or abdominal injuries (with fractures of any of ribs 7 through 12)
Pulmonary laceration or pulmonary contusion
Pneumothorax (see Pneumothorax (Traumatic) and see also Pneumothorax (Tension))
Hemothorax
Tracheobronchial injuries (uncommon)