Dating rib fractures

Do rib fractures in infants show a predictable pattern of healing?

Conclusion: It appears that rib fractures in infants follow a predictable pattern of healing. Measuring the thickness of the callous formation is a more objective way of guiding the radiologist in estimating the age of the fracture. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

What does a fractured rib look like on Xray?

Simple (non-displaced) fractures appear as cracks in the rib or a jagged edge. Displaced fractures appear to lack contour along the edge of the rib on x-ray. Floating segments of ribs, known as a flail chest, can also be easily seen on x-ray.

What are the symptoms of a broken rib?

The most common symptom of rib fractures is pain. Pain is typically elicited with breathing or coughing. If the fractures are complex, the patient may suffer from additional damage to underlying structures.

What causes a broken rib to break?

The most common mechanism causing rib fractures is blunt trauma (i.e. automobile accidents, falls from height, assault, or even severe coughing). Blunt trauma causes rib fractures by exerting direct pressure on the rib causing it to break.

What is the most likely diagnosis of rib fracture in infants?

In the absence of a history of a significant accidental event, the most likely diagnosis in an infant with rib fractures is non-accidental injury. Medical opinion is essential when deciding if child abuse has taken place or not and this requires a consideration of whether a proposed causal explanation fits with the observed injuries.

What does a broken rib feel like for a child?

Many experts believe a child would show distress on receiving a rib fracture. We are often told in court that adults find rib fractures very painful, especially on breathing and movement, and therefore a child is likely to feel the same. Research tells us, however, the pain threshold is different from child to child.

Can a baby break a rib from rough play?

Rib Fractures. The amount of force needed to cause a rib fracture is not known but it is thought that normal handling or rough play would not cause a fracture in a child with normal bones. The ribs of an infant are soft and pliable/bendy so it is thought that considerable force is necessary to break them.

Do rib fracture-associated mortality rates differ among pediatric ribs?

Because of the pliability of younger ribs, pediatric ribs are believed to require more energy to fracture. We hypothesized this will result in a different rib fracture-associated pediatric mortality rate.

What does it mean when your ribs break?

A broken rib is a common injury that occurs when one of the bones in your rib cage breaks or cracks. The most common cause is chest trauma, such as from a fall, motor vehicle accident or impact during contact sports. Many broken ribs are merely cracked.

What can cause a rib fracture?

You can fracture one or more ribs in a trauma, such as a car crash, a fall from a height, or a contact-sports mishap. Rib fractures can even result from repetitive movements in sports, such as golf. Occasionally, severe coughing can cause a rib fracture, especially in people who have a bone-weakening cancer, or who are elderly or have osteoporosis.

Can You Break Your ribcage?

The bones of the ribcage and sternum can break (fracture) and the muscles of the chest that support the ribcage can also be injured, strained, or bruised. The term bruised rib is sometimes used to describe an injury where the ribs are hurt, but they are not broken.

What causes a bruised rib to pop?

Broken or bruised ribs are usually caused by a fall, a blow to the chest or severe coughing. Symptoms include: strong pain in your chest area, particularly when you breathe in.