Broken ribs This is a serious injury to the chest. Like any external impact on a living organism, it can be very dangerous for human health, in case of untimely diagnosis and subsequent treatment. it is necessary to accurately understand what causes of fractures occur, what symptoms accompany them, and what exactly you need to pay attention to when providing first aid.
First, consider the prerequisites for the occurrence of this type of damage. Not the last role here is played by the age of the injured person, on which a certain level of elasticity of the chest depends. Most often, fractures occur in older people. Their bones become more fragile with age, and even a small fall on hard tiles or slippery asphalt in winter can cause injury.
The risk of damage in a person 35-40 years old is also not uncommon, but during this period they happen a little less often and require more solid reasons for themselves. In young children, even with multiple rib fractures, things are more positive. A high degree of elasticity, even with strong compression of the chest, allows it to maintain its integrity.
If we consider the general causes of such a serious type of damage, then among them we can distinguish such as injuries at home, injuries at work, traffic accidents, osteoporosis, as well as tumor and various infectious diseases.
Closed rib fracture
Closed fractures are divided into two types. Simple fractures and complex fractures of the ribs. If in the first case everything is quite clear, then in the second – an incredibly sad picture appears. Broken sections of the ribs penetrate into the internal organs of a person and damage them, or multiple breaks of the ribs lead to a dangerous deformation of the chest.
With a simple fracture, the pain of the injured person, as a rule, manifests itself sharply when coughing, inhaling and exhaling, as well as at the slightest movement. If the fracture is complex, breathing will be superficial and rapid, the patient will feel very severe pain, in some cases it may come to shock.
In the case of a closed simple fracture in a person, a specific pain medication is first administered. Then it is necessary to give the patient a semi-sitting position, tie a hand bent at the elbow to the body in order to create pressure on the broken rib. In case of a complex fracture, sit the injured person half-sitting and, tilting towards the injury, apply a good support bandage, securing the arm near the body, so as to immobilize the ribs. In both cases, immediately call an ambulance.
Open rib fracture
Open rib fractures are extremely rare. Most often they are caused by a gunshot wound or a strong blow to the chest. In the event of such dangerous fractures, bleeding of the wound increases. In this case, the blood is released with foam. You can also hear sounds similar to squelching or champing.
The first medical aid in this case will consist in the initial administration of the exact dose of promedol for quick pain relief, then after closing the wound with the palm of the hand, it is necessary to plant the injured person and tilt him towards the injury. Next, a special dressing material is applied, covered with polyethylene or any other material that does not allow air to pass through, and only then is it carefully bandaged.
The hand on the side where the damage is located must be immobilized, secured with a scarf bandage and tied to the body, so that the ribs are immobilized.
When receiving injuries of this type, there is a rather sharp pain in the chest, which increases significantly in the process of breathing, talking and coughing. Because of this, breathing is rapid and shallow. On the side where the lesion is found, the chest, as a rule, lags far behind in the act of breathing, and edema can be detected at the fracture site, in rare cases.
You can also note in an injured person a certain symptom of “interrupted breath” – when pain does not allow you to complete an attempt to take a deep breath – and Payr’s symptom (pain that occurs when bending to the uninjured side). Another important factor is the symptom of axial loads, when when the chest is squeezed in the sagittal (front to back) and frontal (parallel to the plane of support) planes, pain occurs not at the place of compression, but in the area of the bone defect.
Anterior and lateral fractures are very difficult to tolerate. Often they are accompanied by serious disorders of pulmonary ventilation, as well as a violation of gas exchange in the human body. A fracture of the ribs from behind is much easier to carry, in such cases, a violation of pulmonary ventilation, most often, is absent.
In case of lung damage, additional symptoms may occur, such as hemoptysis, subcutaneous emphysema (when air accumulates in the subcutaneous retina of the chest and subsequently moves to other parts of the body), pneumothorax (when air or gases accumulate in the pleural cavity), hemothorax (also accumulation in the pleural cavity, but not air, but blood).
With a fracture of several ribs, the patient’s situation is much worse: the pulse quickens, the skin turns pale (often acquires a bluish tint). In order not to inflict sharp pain on himself, the injured person tries to sit still, afraid of the slightest change in body position. It is possible to diagnose a fracture of the ribs only in a clinical setting. With the help of X-ray examination tools, as well as the collection of anamnesis and additional blood and urine tests.