Rib injury clinic

Rib and sternal injury

Rib and chest wall injuries are common and be caused by many different traumatic or sports related accidents. They vary in severity from simple chest wall bruising to multiple rib breaks or fractures and associated internal or other injuries.

Symptoms

Symptoms vary depending on severity of injury but pain and discomfort are very common and often protracted, worse with certain activities and movements. Breathing can be affected and sleep affected.

Diagnosis

Careful clinical assessment is important as occasionally chest wall injuries particularly subtle rib fractures or fracture dislocations of the joint between the rib and sternum. Radiological investigation including Chest X-ray, Chest CT or MRI are useful tools with increasing sensitivity for detecting obvious to subtle chest wall injuries. Ultrasound may help with very rib fractures especially subluxation or dislocation of the rib.

Treatment

Chest wall injuries require time to heal so it is important you receive a complete service throughout your treatment. At Spire St Anthony’s Hospital we have dedicated before and after teams to provide a comprehensive evaluation and treatment for those affected by chest wall injuries. After an initial consultation with Mr Hunt, we will assess the most appropriate treatment methods for you. Whether it be invasive or non-invasive, we ensure your treatment will be of the highest quality, tailored to your individual needs. For many, simple analgesics, support garments and targeted physiotherapy will suffice in restoring the ribcage however for more severe cases, injections or even surgery may be required.