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A fracture of the first rib occurs in the event of a blow, fall, or compression of the chest. By itself, such a fracture can heal quite quickly, while complications usually occur with concomitant trauma to any of the internal organs, and it is these complications that cause the most trouble to the victims. Fractures of the first rib, as well as single fractures of any other ribs, are almost always treated on an outpatient basis.
Depending on the force that has affected the chest, the fracture may be complete or subperiosteal, or cracks appear on the rib. Fractures of the first, second, and third ribs are classified as non-severe rib fractures, due to the fact that the damage to the internal organs that can occur with such injuries is not fatal. However, a fracture of the first rib can lead to damage to the aorta, up to its rupture.
Causes and symptoms of a first rib fracture
The most common causes of rib fractures, including a fracture of the first rib, include traffic accidents, sports and various falls. In rare cases, in older people with weakened bones, a violent cough can cause a fracture.
The main symptom that indicates a fracture of the first rib is incredibly severe chest pain, which becomes many times stronger with deep breaths and coughing, so the victim’s breathing becomes shallow, and this can cause pneumonia.
If a person experiences acute pain in the chest for 10-20 minutes non-stop, and the pain remains equally strong all the time, you should hurry up and call an ambulance, because this symptom can indicate not only a rib injury, but also a heart attack. The symptoms of a rib fracture can also include the formation of a bruise at the site of injury, and in case of severe bleeding, the victim often begins to spit blood.
What to do if the first rib is broken?
When providing emergency care for a fracture of the first rib, attention should be focused on accurately and quickly applying a fixing bandage to the chest of the victim. Since the main goal of first aid for a broken bone is its absolute immobilization, applying an elastic bandage to the chest will not only help fix the injured rib, but will also significantly facilitate the respiratory process and reduce pain. In the absence of elastic bandages, the bandage can be made from any fabric at hand.
It is not recommended to talk for a long time with the victim, as this will cause him severe pain. It is also necessary to ensure that the patient is in the “sitting” position during first aid, before the arrival of doctors and during transportation to the medical institution, which will significantly reduce the risk of additional injuries to internal organs. An uncomplicated fracture of the first rib will likely not require hospitalization.
At the time of providing first aid to the victim, you should not only apply a bandage, but also attach something cold to the damaged area, you can also give the person an anesthetic, for example, ibuprofen. In any case, it is necessary to call an ambulance or personally deliver the patient to the emergency room, firstly, in order to make an accurate diagnosis, and secondly, to make sure that there are no complications and injuries of internal organs.
Diagnosis and treatment of a fracture of the first rib
In modern diagnostics of rib fractures, X-ray, magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography are used. To begin with, a picture is taken using a conventional x-ray, with obvious and simple fractures of the ribs, this may be enough. If X-ray does not allow to identify or determine the extent and location of damage, MRI and CT should be used, which will accurately determine the nature of damage not only to the ribs, but also to blood vessels and soft tissues.
In the process of treating average fractures of the first rib, pressure bandages are not always applied. In some cases, this can cause unwanted additional complications such as pneumonia and pleurisy. If it is necessary to keep the fracture site immobilized, modern doctors apply an elastic bandage, the main purpose of which is to remind the patient to breathe in the “belly”.
Upon admission to the emergency room, after the medical worker has ascertained a fracture of the rib, a one-time novocaine blockade of the fracture site is performed, which most often ends the treatment in case of a good physical condition of the victim and the absence of side injuries. Next, a suitable symptomatic therapy is carried out, that is, treatment aimed at quickly getting rid of unpleasant symptoms. In this case, the measures are aimed at effective pain relief.
Recovery after fracture of the first rib
One of the main components of successful treatment and speedy recovery after a fracture of the first rib is rest and avoiding any physical exertion. Also, the victim should be in bed in a sitting position, which will speed up the process of bone fusion. Special physiotherapy procedures are prescribed, expectorant drugs, therapeutic breathing exercises, the purpose of which is to prevent congestion in the internal organs of the chest. With such a fracture without complications, the process of treatment and rehabilitation usually takes a total of no more than 30 days.