Sternal/Rib Fracture Flashcards
1
Q
CLINICAL FEATURES
Presentation
A
- History blunt trauma to anterior chest wall or deceleration injury
- Anterior chest wall pain
- Worse with deep breath
- Shortness of breath
- Point tenderness over sternum
- Soft tissue swelling
2
Q
INVESTIGATIONS
First line
A
- Chest x-ray
- AP and lateral
- ECG - cardiac monitoring
3
Q
MANAGEMENT
General
A
- ABCDE
- Primary survery for lifethreatening conditions such as pneumothorax, haemothorax, cardiac tamponade and flail chest
- Secondary survey upon stablisation
- Analgesia mainstay treatment
- Operative fixation if significantly displaced or unstable