First rib fractures: not always a hallmark of severe trauma-a report of three cases
- Publication date
- Publisher
- Elsevier
Abstract
【Abstract】According to medical literature, fracture
of the first rib is quite rare and the bilateral condition is
especially rare. This type of fracture is usually associated
with severe intrathoracic trauma and other bony or
neurovascular injuries, thus can be considered as a
harbinger of major trauma. However here we present three
cases of low velocity first rib fractures without any major
trauma or multisystem injuries. All the three patients were
treated conservatively and did well on simple analgesics
and rest and had no early or late complications. It can be
seen that not all the first rib fractures are associated with
major trauma or multisystem injuries. There is a variant of
first rib fracture with low velocity injuries which is not
associated with any major complications in contrast to
majority of first rib fractures associated with high velocity
injuries. Causative factor of such injuries may be violent
muscular contraction of scalenus anterior or serratus
anterior, but not direct trauma.
Key words: Rib fractures; Wounds and injuries;
Multiple traum