Is a broken rib serious?

A rib is broken, which is a common rib fracture. Its most obvious symptom is severe pain. At this time, you should seek medical attention in time and receive good treatment in time to prevent the occurrence of complications. You should use analgesics in time to treat it. You can take oral or intravenous analgesics. You should reduce some complications caused by the respiratory system. Through good treatment, generally speaking, a better therapeutic effect can be achieved.

Is a broken rib serious?

1. Treatment of single closed rib fracture

Because the two ends of the fracture are supported by the upper and lower ribs and intercostal muscles, there is little dislocation and movement, and they can usually heal automatically. The main purpose of fixing the thorax is to reduce the movement of the fracture ends and relieve pain. The methods include: fixation with wide adhesive strips, fixation with multi-strapped chest cloth or fixation with elastic chest strap. 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.

2. Treatment of flail chest

Correct abnormal respiratory movements, resist shock, prevent and treat infection, and deal with combined injuries. When the chest wall softening is small or located on the back, abnormal respiratory movements may not be obvious or severe, and local padding and pressure bandaging can be used. However, when the floating amplitude reaches more than 3 cm, it can cause serious respiratory and circulatory dysfunction. When it exceeds 5 cm or it is bilateral flail chest syndrome, it can quickly lead to death and must be treated urgently. First, a temporary pressure bandage with a splint is applied, and then traction and fixation of the ribs are performed.

3. Treatment of open fractures

Thorough debridement should be performed as soon as possible. Remove bone fragments and dead tissue, and bite the broken ends of the bones flat to avoid injuring surrounding tissues. If the intercostal blood vessels are damaged, the distal and proximal ends of the ruptured blood vessels should be sutured separately. Cutting off a section of the intercostal nerve can help relieve postoperative pain. Patients with pleural damage should be treated as open pneumothorax. After surgery, tetanus antitoxin serum is routinely injected and antibiotics are given to prevent and treat infection.