How to relieve pain from rib impact

The degree of pain will vary depending on the severity of the rib injury. The susceptibility of rib injuries varies among people at different ages. In children, the ribs are elastic and not easily broken, but in adults, especially the elderly, the elasticity of the ribs decreases and they are easily fractured. So adults and the elderly should protect their ribs better to avoid injury. Below is an introduction to the symptoms, examinations and treatments after rib impact.

Rib fractures caused by different modes of external violence may have different characteristics: Rib fractures caused by direct violence acting on a localized area of ​​the chest, with the broken ends displaced inward, may puncture the intercostal blood vessels, pleura and lungs, and cause hemothorax or (and) pneumothorax. Indirect violence, such as when the chest is squeezed from front to back, fractures are mostly in the middle section of the ribs. The broken ends shift outward, injuring the soft tissue of the chest wall and causing chest wall hematoma. Rib fractures caused by gunshot or shrapnel injuries are often comminuted fractures.

Symptoms: Local pain is the most obvious symptom of rib fracture, and it worsens with movements such as coughing, deep breathing or body turning. Sometimes the patient can hear or feel a "clicking" bone friction at the fractured rib. Pain and disruption of chest stability can limit respiratory mobility, lead to rapid and shallow breathing, and reduce alveolar ventilation. Patients are afraid to cough, and sputum is retained, which can cause obstruction of lower respiratory tract secretions, pulmonary dampness, or atelectasis. This should be paid special attention to the elderly, weak patients or those with existing lung diseases.

The diagnosis of rib fractures is based primarily on injury history, clinical manifestations, and chest X-ray examination. Most rib fractures can be shown on chest X-rays. However, costal cartilage fractures, "willow branch fractures", fractures without dislocation, or mid-rib fractures are difficult to detect on chest X-rays because of the overlapping of the ribs on both sides. In addition to pleural and lung injuries and the resulting hemothorax and/or pneumothorax, rib fractures are often accompanied by other chest injuries or injuries to areas outside the chest.

The treatment principles for simple rib fractures are pain relief, immobilization and prevention of lung infection. Analgesics can be taken orally or injected intramuscularly when necessary. Intercostal nerve block or pain point closure has a good analgesic effect and can improve breathing and effective coughing function. Be careful not to puncture too deep to avoid puncturing the pleura. Semi-ring tape fixation has the effect of stabilizing fractures and relieving pain. However, because its analgesic effect is not ideal, it restricts breathing and has complications such as skin allergies, it is generally not used except when transferring the wounded. Alternatively, a multi-head chest strap or elastic chest strap may be more effective. The prevention of pulmonary complications mainly lies in encouraging patients to cough, sit up frequently and assist in expectoration, and perform endotracheal suction when necessary.