Crack in the rib. Symptoms and treatment, photo

Fissure appearing in the rib in patients, it can occur against the background of injuries of varying severity. This condition is a pathology that develops when the integrity of the bone tissue is violated as a result of its increase in pressure on it or the influence of other factors. Symptoms of pathology can significantly worsen the condition of patients, often manifested by external signs, which facilitates diagnosis. When the first symptoms appear, it is important to consult a doctor promptly.

Views

The pathological condition is considered quite dangerous for patients of different ages. It has several types, despite the fact that a crack is not the most severe form of damage to the integrity of bone tissue.

Uncomplicated view

With such a violation, a small crack is present in the patient's rib. It can occur not only as a result of injury, but also against the background of other factors.

In this case, the patient is not worried about severe manifestations, and the condition quickly normalizes after the course of therapy. There are no complications with this type of disease, especially with the timely start of treatment.

Complicated view

A crack in the rib (symptoms can bother patients even in the presence of a small lesion) with a complicated course of the disorder is quite extensive. Although it does not imply a serious fracture with fragments, it is possible to increase the area and damage and separate a certain amount of tissue from the injury site.

As a result, patients develop complications, possibly damage to closely located organs and tissues. This type of pathology is considered more dangerous, especially in the absence of therapy.

Stages and degrees

Depending on the neglect of symptoms, experts distinguish 3 main stages of the pathological condition. Each of them proceeds differently in patients.

initial stage

At this stage, patients develop symptoms of the disorder. They can appear in a mild form if the crack has a minimum size, there are no signs of displacement, fragments in the damaged area.

There are no systemic disorders at this stage, patients do not have an increase in body temperature. A feature of the initial stage is that even external signs may be absent. Patients are concerned only with mild discomfort.

Progressive stage

At this stage, the patient's condition worsens. This is usually observed in the absence of therapy at the initial stage. The area of ​​the lesion on the bone tissue increases.

More often at this stage, external signs of a violation appear, as well as systemic disorders. The lack of therapy leads to an aggravation of the manifestations.

Running stage

The transition of pathology to this stage is usually observed if the patient ignores the symptoms and continues to lead a normal life. The fissure increases in size, which leads to the development of a full-fledged fracture.

At this stage, complications from the internal organs appear, as well as pronounced external symptoms that aggravate the general condition. Patients with this course of the disorder are placed in a hospital, since not only treatment of the underlying disease is required, but also of the accompanying complications.

Symptoms and Signs

A crack in the rib (symptoms may not bother the patient immediately after the onset of damage) manifests itself in patients in the form of various signs, both external and systemic. Among the external signs, a hematoma in the affected area can be distinguished. It appears immediately after injury or within a few hours.

The color of the hematoma can be red or purple, gradually it changes to dark blue. Depending on the characteristics of the patient's skin, the color may change, as well as the time during which the hematoma remains on the skin.

Among the external manifestations, it is also worth highlighting swelling in the affected area. It is not always present, more often it appears in the presence of an extensive crack. Many patients experience pallor of the skin or redness if there are vascular disorders.

Patients also develop other symptoms:

• Headache and dizziness that occurs with trauma.
• Pain in the affected area of ​​varying intensity. The nature and severity of discomfort depends on the stage of development of the pathological condition. The symptom is acutely manifested during movements, lifting weights or performing manipulations that require tension in the muscles of the spinal column. The pain also manifests itself when coughing and taking a deep breath.
• An increase in body temperature is more often observed with the progression of the disorder and the absence of therapy. In response to injury, an inflammatory process develops in the body, which leads to fever.
• Lack of appetite is a standard response to hyperthermia and trauma.
• Weakness and fatigue.
• Decreased performance, both physical and mental. The patient adheres to bed rest most of the time, since the movements bring him severe pain.
• Muscle and joint pains that develop against the background of fever and significantly worsen the general condition of the patient.
• Coughing is considered a common symptom that aggravates symptoms. The patient cannot control him; during the tension of the muscles of the chest, an increase in the lesion occurs.
• Deterioration of the brain as a result of the inability to take a deep breath due to severe pain.
• Sleep disturbance, which is associated with severe pain when changing position, persisting discomfort even in the absence of movement.

Symptoms gradually worsen as the condition progresses. Possible impairment of the patient's consciousness as a result of severe pain. In the presence of damage to the surrounding tissues in the affected area, not only a hematoma appears, but also severe edema, the pain intensifies.

Causes

A crack is not always the result of injury. In the rib, it can appear against a background of different factors, while the symptoms are different.

The main causes of the pathological condition:

• Diseases of the circulatory system, accompanied by disorders of the bone tissue.
• Tumors in the sternum or ribs.
• Diagnosing osteoporosis in patients. This reason is more typical for women, since the excretion of calcium from the bone tissue is more often observed during menopause as a result of estrogen deficiency. At the same time, the density of the bone decreases, which leads to the appearance of a crack, even with low pressure.
• Tuberculous damage to bone tissue, which leads to its softening.
• Osteomyelitis is considered a common cause, as it leads to damage to bone cells, the development of a purulent process.
• Injury to the chest in a fall, collision. Since the rib is not a thick bone, the force of impact or collision should not be pronounced. For some, minor trauma is enough.

Predisposing factors include professional sports, as well as malnutrition with calcium deficiency. This leads to increased bone fragility. Professional athletes are more likely to suffer from this disorder, especially those involved in contact sports.

Diagnostics

When symptoms of a disorder appear, an examination of the patient is required in order to clarify the diagnosis and accompanying deviations.

Diagnostic method	Peculiarities	Cost and venue
Interrogation and inspection of the lesion site	The first and most important stage of the study, in which the doctor assesses the initial condition of the patient, notes concomitant deviations from other organs. The method involves interviewing the patient, listening to complaints and examining the affected area. The method is considered effective, as it helps to determine the type of violation, even without an X-ray examination.	Conducted in a public clinic free of charge if necessary
Clinical blood test	The standard diagnostic step for any disease. It involves taking blood from a patient, followed by its study in a laboratory and determining the number of the most important cells. Often, a detailed study is required, which more accurately determines the patient's condition, helps to identify concomitant abnormalities of inflammatory origin.	The method can be used in a private or public clinic. The cost of the study when it is carried out in a private clinic is approximately 200-300 rubles.
Blood chemistry	An additional diagnostic method, which also involves the study of blood in a laboratory in order to determine the state of internal organs. Such diagnostics are not always required. In most cases, it is prescribed if the patient has concomitant chronic pathologies.	It is carried out in different clinics. When researching in a private institution, the price is 300-400 rubles.
X-ray examination of the affected area	The most important and effective diagnostic method, which allows not only to confirm the presence of a crack, but also to detect its localization and size. When diagnosing, a specialist determines whether the patient has complications. The research does not require any preparation. With the help of an X-ray machine, doctors receive a picture, a description of which allows them to establish an accurate diagnosis	Usually carried out for free in a government agency

X-ray examination is considered the most effective method. Thanks to the diagnosis, you can see the size of the crack and possible complications with bone displacement.

Treatment methods

A fissure in the rib (symptoms of the disease may depend on the degree of tissue damage) is treated using different methods. The specific treatment regimen is determined depending on the degree of neglect of the condition.

Usually they use drugs, physiotherapy, folk remedies. A prerequisite for therapy is the imposition of a special bandage that excludes muscle movement in the affected area.

A mild form of the disorder is treated on an outpatient basis, when the doctor does not see a threat to the patient, and there is no need to be in the hospital. The middle and severe stage is necessarily treated in a hospital setting, which minimizes the risk of severe complications.

First aid

If the patient is injured in the chest, he needs to receive first aid, which will prevent the development of complications.

First aid algorithm:

1. Call the emergency team.
2. Place the patient carefully on a firm surface, avoiding sudden movements.
3. Provide fresh air.
4. If possible, apply an immobilizing bandage to the chest, which will prevent further enlargement of the lesion.
5. In case of severe pain, the patient is allowed to take any pain reliever. It can be used only if the patient has already taken such a remedy and had no complications.

You should not perform other actions, as well as transport the patient to a medical institution on your own. Without special devices, transportation can be dangerous, often leading to damage to internal organs.

Medications

Medical treatment for incomplete rib fracture is aimed primarily at relieving pain and preventing the development of a pronounced inflammatory process. Timely use of medications helps to eliminate manifestations and significantly shortens the recovery period.

Doctors may also prescribe medications to speed up bone healing. They contain adequate amounts of calcium.

Most popular remedies:

• Ketorol has analgesic properties and is considered very effective. Additionally, the medication has an anti-inflammatory effect, which improves the patient's condition, helps prevent the progression of the inflammatory process. Tablets are taken 1 piece 2-4 times a day, depending on the severity of the pain. The duration of drug treatment does not exceed 5 days.
• No-shpa indicated for the purpose of relaxing muscle fibers and preventing the development of complications from the digestive tract. The tablets also relieve pain somewhat if the patient has a muscle spasm. The drug is taken orally 2 tablets 2 times a day. The duration of the therapeutic application is 10 days.
• Paracetamol is indicated when the body temperature rises against the background of the progression of the inflammatory process. The tool has mild analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, but its main action is aimed at lowering body temperature. Take pills if necessary, that is, with an increase in performance. The dosage for the patient usually does not exceed 1 tablet. It is not recommended to use the product for more than 5 days in a row.
• Ibuprofen has anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and analgesic effects. It is prescribed with minimal effectiveness of Paracetamol in the fight against fever. The patient is allowed to take no more than 3 tablets per day, and the duration of continuous therapy is no more than 5 days.
• Amoxil indicated when diagnosing acute inflammation in the affected area. This tool belongs to broad-spectrum antibacterial medicines. When using it, the elimination of signs of inflammation and an improvement in the general condition due to the destruction of pathogenic bacteria are noted. Tablets are taken 2 pieces per day for 10 days. The daily rate must be divided into 2 doses during the day.
• Meloxicam injected intramuscularly if patients are worried about severe pain, and tablets do not help improve the condition. The drug not only eliminates pain, but also has anti-inflammatory properties, therefore, facilitates the course of the disease. A day, the patient is injected intramuscularly with 1.5 ml of the drug, the therapy is repeated for 3-5 days in a row.
• Kalcemin does not help to get rid of pain and does not affect the development of the inflammatory process, but its use helps to speed up the restoration of bone tissue. This is due to the presence of a large amount of calcium in the composition. Tablets are taken in 1-2 pieces within 30 days. If necessary, the doctor extends the course.

Depending on the presence of other abnormalities in patients, additional funds may be prescribed to eliminate complications and prevent the aggravation of symptoms.

Folk remedies

A crack in the rib (symptoms of a violation can appear in an acute form with an extensive lesion) not is treated with the help of alternative medicine recipes, since they are not able to have the desired effect on fabrics. Despite this, in combination with medication, doctors may allow the use of a home composition. In most cases, their action is aimed at eliminating anxiety and normalizing sleep, which has a positive effect on the course of the general condition.

Lemon balm infusion has sedative and mild hypnotic properties. It is used in courses of 7-10 days in the acute course of the disorder, severe pain, insomnia against the background of this condition. To obtain a healing composition, it is necessary to pour 200 ml of boiling water into 3 g of dry leaves of the plant, leave for 20 minutes to infuse. Take the filtered drink before bed for 5-7 days in a row.

A decoction based on oak bark has positive properties. It prevents the development of the inflammatory process, and also has a beneficial effect on the digestive tract, as it has enveloping properties. The remedy is taken in short courses of 5 days. To obtain a decoction, it is necessary to boil 5 g of chopped bark in 300 ml of water for 10 minutes. The infusion time of the medicine is 2 hours. Take it 20 ml 2 times a day.

When using folk remedies, it is important to first visit a doctor who will determine the need for their appointment. You cannot treat pathology only with the help of alternative medicine recipes.

Other methods

Among the additional methods of treatment, physiotherapy can be distinguished. Some methods help speed up the healing process, but are applied after the acute symptoms have been eliminated. Physiotherapy is not recommended for 7 days after the diagnosis has been clarified.

Magnetotherapy is considered a common way to improve tissue regeneration. Its principle of action is based on the ability of a magnetic field of a certain frequency to affect tissues. They not only eliminate signs of inflammation, but also have a positive effect on metabolic processes. The course of therapy consists of 10 sessions, the duration of each is 20 minutes. And they are held 2-3 times a week.

Electrophoresis is indicated for prolonged pain syndrome, which worsens the patient's condition. Over the course of 3 weeks, the patient undergoes 10 sessions of 20 minutes each. During treatment, an electric current of a certain frequency affects the affected area, which leads to improved blood circulation and accelerated tissue repair. As a result, pain and accompanying symptoms are eliminated.

Other methods may be prescribed to patients, the specific procedure is determined during examination and questioning.

The recovery period from injury or fracture caused by other factors lasts from 2 weeks to 1 month. In exceptional cases, the duration of the rehabilitation period is 6-8 weeks, but this is usually observed with the development of complications and displacement of the bone against the background of an increase in the area of ​​the lesion.

Possible consequences and complications

In the absence of therapy, patients often develop complications. Especially when they continue to lead their usual way of life.

The most common reactions are:

• Increase in the area of ​​damage to bone tissue.
• Complete fracture of the rib as a result of pressure on the area where the crack appeared.
• Respiratory injury due to displacement of the affected bone.
• Fragment formation.
• The development of the inflammatory process at the site of the lesion against the background of soft tissue damage.
• Extensive hematoma and swelling of the skin.
• Aggravation of pathologies of the chronic form.
• Difficulty breathing due to damage to the lungs.

To prevent complications, it is important to immediately consult a doctor if symptoms of an incomplete rib fracture appear.

A crack can appear in the rib as a result of injuries of varying severity. Symptoms of the disorder appear differently in all patients. Some people ignore the manifestations, which increases the risk of complications. To get the right help, you should consult a doctor immediately when the first signs of a violation of the integrity of the bone tissue appear.

Video about a crack in a rib

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