Pneumonia was found to be an independent predictor of death in old patients with fractured ribs in bergeron et al. Interestingly, when the number of rib fractures reaches 56, the mortality rates become more comparable for younger and older groups. Value of broken or fractured ribs in a maryland car accident. Elderly trauma patients with rib fractures are at greater risk of death and pneumonia. Inpatient management of traumatic rib fractures uptodate. Rib fracture aftercare information mount sinai new york. Wrap the ice pack in a cloth before applying to the injured area. Morbidity from rib fractures increases after age 45. This is a case where the primary injury is rib fractures. A little short of breath on the odd occasion and when i breathe deeply its sore but i can cope no problem, have quite a high pain threshold tbh. The number of fractured ribs also directly correlates with the presence of intrathoracic injury. Pneumonia occurred more frequently in nonsurvivors 36. Your ribs are the bones in your chest that wrap around your upper body. I you have a hole, crack or leaky rivet it is super easy to fix on your own with a small propane torch and some hts73511 rods.
A rib fracture is a crack or break in one or more of your rib bones. For example, a patient with 5 rib fractures likely sustained a significant trauma and may have other injuries such as intracranial bleeds, or other thoracic or abdominal. Pneumonia is often the common pathway to acute respiratory failure resulting from rib fractures, and prevention offers the best means to avoid potentially. Multiply fractured ribs or flail chest can significantly compromise respiratory function. A 71yearold male suffers rib fractures after a tbone crash in baltimore county. A rib fracture can be very painful because your ribs move when you breathe, cough, and move your upper body. Rib fractures are the most common skeletal thoracic injury sustained by restrained occupants in frontal crashes pattimore 1992. While rib fractures are a frequent result of collisions, they are generally considered to be life threatening only when they occur in the elderly e. Apply an ice pack 20 minutes of every hour you are awake for the first 2 days, then 10 to 20 minutes 3 times daily as needed to reduce pain and swelling.
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