Rib fractures

There are a total of 12 pairs of ribs, which are divided equally on both sides of the chest, connected to the sternum and the back to the thoracic spine to form a complete foot. When the chest is injured, whether it is closed or open, rib fractures are the most common, accounting for about 90% of thorax fractures. Rib fractures caused by different external violent modes of action can have different characteristics: rib fractures caused by direct violence acting on limited parts of the chest, the ends of the fractures are shifted inward, and the intercostal blood vessels, pleura, and lungs can be punctured. Hemothorax or (and) pneumothorax is produced. Indirect violence, such as when the chest is squeezed back and forth, fractures are mostly in the middle of the ribs, the stump is displaced outward, stabbing the soft tissue of the chest wall, and producing chest wall hematomas. Rib fractures caused by gunshot or shrapnel injuries are often comminuted fractures. In children, the ribs are elastic and not easy to break, while in adults, especially the elderly, the ribs are weakened and easily broken.