Contusion of ribs: symptoms, treatment, healing time

Symptoms of rib contusion, treatment and first aid

Contusion of the rib - the easiest traumatic injury of the chest, but bringing a lot of discomfort and pain.

The cause of the injury is chest damage due to mechanical, blunt trauma without damaging the structure of the tissues. It happens at fights, falling, car accidents. Trauma can be accompanied by a lung injury.

Symptoms of a bruised rib

In the first hours, there are no external signs. At an objective inspection bruises can not be shown. After a quarter of an hour there are abrasions, bruises and local edema.

Symptoms of a bruised rib

The bruise of the rib hurts for a long time, and the turns of the trunk become painful. Breathing movements are accompanied by increased soreness. The exact place of damage can be determined by probing.

The specific symptoms of injury of the ribs are as follows:

• Pain with pronounced localization;
• Pain when breathing or coughing;
• Local edema of tissues;
• Bruising at the site of injury;
• Temperature increase.

Damage is detected by visual inspection. Mandatory auscultation of the lungs, with which you can determine the occurrence of complications.

rib contusion or fracture

To determine the fracture or bruise of the rib, an additional examination is necessary. The main diagnostic method is radiography, which makes a direct and lateral picture of the chest.

If a trauma causes damage to the lung, a free fluid can be found on the X-ray in the pleural cavity. It appears as a result of rupture of the vessel.

Possible complications

Violation of the integrity of a large artery causes serious, life-threatening bleeding. Damage to the bronchus leads to pneumothorax - the flow of air into the pleural cavity. As a result, there is a contraction of the lung and a dangerous displacement of the heart in the opposite direction.

Extensive subcutaneous hematoma after trauma requires surgical intervention. The blood is sucked off with a syringe with a thick needle. If the blood is curdled and the usual method is not removed, then a hematoma is needed.

Long-term pain and high fever with contusion of ribs testify to the attachment of post-traumatic pneumonia. The disease is accompanied by a cough that increases pain.

Specialized treatment of rib contusion

Appeal to the doctor is necessary, because to distinguish the bruise of the ribs of the chest from uncomplicated fracture is quite difficult. Only additional, after a physical examination, the methods of examination, will help to make the right conclusion.

After clarifying the diagnosis, thoracic surgeons adhere to the following treatment regimen:

• Cold to the place of injury;
• Limitation of mobility, home, mostly bed rest;
• Locally with bruises of the ribs of the chest apply ointment - diklak;
• With a strong pain symptom, you can take painkillers tablets - trigan, ketones.
• With an increase in temperature above 38 degrees, the reception of antipyretic drugs is indicated - ibuprofen, paracetamol.

High temperature with contusion of ribs appears when complicating pneumonia, its treatment requires additional examination and the appointment of antibacterial agents.

What ointments and medications are used for a rib bruise?

The goal of treatment with a rib bruise is to reduce pain, and use of anti-inflammatory drugs. Given the superficial location of the ribs of the chest, the treatment is widely used local remedies: ointments, gels and compresses.

The main means for treating the injury are as follows:

• Anti-inflammatory local remedies - diclofenac ointments, fastum gel, dip-rel;
• Painkillers - tablets of ketones, solpadein, analgin, naproxen;
• Means that accelerate healing - trental, pentoxifylline.

Severe bruises with severe pain symptoms require the injection of painkillers: ketalong, dicloberl, dexalgin. In the rehabilitation period, breathing exercises, physiotherapy and massage are used.

Duration of treatment is 30-50 days.

Treatment of bruised ribs at home

To speed up the recovery process is possible with a fixing vest that will protect the affected area from additional damage when displaced. This will relieve pain when breathing and moving.

After the stifling of the acute process, the rehabilitation period can be accelerated at home with the help of a Ledum, a decoction of which is recommended to rub the place of the bruise.

The anti-inflammatory properties of calendula are used. From her leaves prepare a decoction and apply compresses to the affected area. Treatment of hematoma with a decoction of water spray removes puffiness.

To avoid complications and accelerate the recovery period, you should not allow repeated injury to the chest. It is necessary to observe peace and recommendations of specialists.

After a rib injury, do not engage in self-medication, but go through a complete examination to exclude fractures and other complications. Without X-ray diagnostics, the use of pressure bandages is prohibited.

First aid for suspected bruise of the rib

The first action that must be done independently before calling a doctor is to apply cold in the form of ice or refrigerated objects.

This will relieve swelling and prevent the formation of a large hematoma. Cooling compresses are used the first two days after the injury.

Further actions should be appointed by the doctor after diagnosis of the injury.

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A source: http://medknsltant.com/simptomy-ushiba-reber-lechenie-diagnostika/

Bruised rib symptoms: how to treat at home

Bruises, sprains and fractures were subjected to every person. Household and professional injuries are considered the most common complaint in adults, and bruises and abrasions are an integral part of children's life.

In addition to the knees and elbows, other parts of the body often suffer: nose, back, ribs. The last damage causes a lot of anxiety, it hurts a very long time.

How to provide first aid when you need a doctor's consultation, and how is this damage treated?

Features of contusion of ribs

This trauma is not considered very dangerous, but it can bring a lot of unpleasant feelings to the victim. After a blow to the bony corset, which protects the chest, there is a sharp pain, then it goes into a whining sensation that does not stop a long period.

But the treatment of this damage is most often carried out at home, because it does not pose a threat to life and is not a strict indication to constant medical supervision.

What causes these injuries? The ability of a person to move. Some movements are sloppy, which causes blows and falls, as a result of which ribs suffer.

If the blow was not strong, the victim will get rid of dull pain or a couple of bruises that will disappear without help for several days, and sometimes hours.

Such cases require compulsory medical consultation, medical treatment, and sometimes therapy in a hospital.

Contusion of the ribs is a condition in which after a trauma there is a sharp pain, amplified by the slightest movement, limited movement, redness of the skin or bruise in the place of impact.

The main functions of the ribs are the protection of the chest from external factors and participation in respiration processes.

The bony corset reliably covers the heart and lungs, protecting them from minor bumps and serious injuries.

Taking the impact on themselves, the ribs suffer: their integrity is violated, which leads to the violation of their basic functions.

If this part of the body is not rendered timely assistance, and the trauma is left without attention, there is a large the likelihood of developing serious consequences of it, as well as complications that can cost lives patient.

Signs of contusion of ribs

To recognize a bruise to an ordinary person is hard enough. Symptoms of it are similar to manifestations of other, more dangerous injuries. To distinguish a bruise from a fracture and displacement, only a professional can, but he will be based more on the results of various diagnostics, rather than on his own guesses.

Therefore, before beginning treatment of the injury, you should establish an accurate diagnosis and get a doctor's advice.

Usually a bruise is a small diameter hematoma. But it can be burdened by a violation of the integrity of bone tissue: a fracture of the ribs or cracks in them. For this trauma are also typical:

• breaks of muscle tissue and their fibers;
• infringement of nerve fibers;
• ruptures of blood vessels of different sizes.

The latter leads to internal hemorrhage. The larger the ruptured vessel, the larger the bruise will be in the place of impact. Such lesions are expressed in acute or dull pain, which does not cease for a very long time.

The main reason for a bruise is to hit the body against a blunt object. It can happen in the home, on the street when falling, during sports, during an accident. Anxiety can affect everyone, and therefore it is important to know how to provide first aid to yourself or another victim.

First aid with chest contusions

The basic rule of pre-hospital care is - do no harm! If a person does not know how to properly provide first aid, it is better not to do it at all, than to aggravate the condition of the victim by their actions. With the existing skills, you need to act like this:

• Immobilize the victim. It is necessary to limit any of its actions: the position of the victim's body after the injury must be absolutely immobile.
• Eliminate the presence of fracture and displacement of the ribs. To do this, with the palm of your hand, you should gently hold the side on which you hit. Such an examination is not professional and will not allow you to establish an accurate diagnosis, but with its help obvious and serious fractures are identified. They are expressed in the displacement of bones, the presence of sharp corners, dents, depressions.
• The next stage of help is an icy compress. It can be made from any product located in the freezer or ice. Cold wrapped with a cotton cloth and applied to the site of the injury. Keep the compress need not more than half an hour, then take a break for an hour and again apply ice.

• With severe pain, medications with analgesic action will help. For adults, any medications are indicated, and in case of trauma in a child, the choice should be stopped on Paracetamol.
• It is necessary to control the breathing of the victim. The exhalations should be neat and slow, but every 3-4 minutes one should force a person to take deep breaths and exhalations. The important thing is what sensations cause such an effect: in acute and severe pain, deep breathing is not shown more than once in 60 minutes.

Having given the first help, you need to immediately call an ambulance and wait for the team of doctors.

It is not advisable to transport the injured person by himself: a latent fracture or a crack can lead to a displacement of the ribs when trying move or move the patient, and sharp edges of bone tissue are quite capable of damaging the heart or lungs, cause a rupture of the arteries and veins.

Help at home

The doctor will perform the diagnosis and will assign a "visual" examination to assess internal injuries. Diagnose the bruise and possible complications with it using such techniques:

• radiography;
• ultrasound diagnostics;
• Magnetic resonance imaging.

If the patient's condition is not serious and does not pose a threat to life and health, the patient is sent for home treatment. It implies the implementation of all the recommendations of a specialist and regular check-ups from a surgeon or traumatologist.

Therapy in case of injury consists in the elimination of the symptoms of trauma. Thus, to remove pain, tablets or injections of analgesics are shown. The resulting hematoma is also treatable.

On the fourth day after the injury, warming compresses can be applied and grease the place of the bruise with resorptive ointments.

Easy massage of the damaged area will eliminate stagnation of blood, and the bruise will quickly "resolve".

If the thermometer's mark does not exceed the indicator of 3 degrees, do not worry - this is the natural reaction of the body to trauma.

But if these indicators are exceeded and there is a strong heat, which does not disappear for a long time, you can take antipyretic drugs.

As soon as pain disappears, the doctor will recommend starting physiological procedures. Their task is to return the muscles to the lost tonus.

You need to start with simple movements: lifting the body, turning to the sides.

First you need to do 3-5 repetitions, with each day prolonging the time of the session and adding new movements.

A specialist can also prescribe special physiotherapy: massages, warming up and so on. Usually, such procedures are carried out in a hospital setting and require visiting the fizkabinet for patients. Therefore, physiotherapy is prescribed after the doctor has allowed the movements.

Traditional methods of treatment

As already mentioned, the treatment of such a bruise, as a rule, is conducted outside the hospital. Therefore it is important to know, with a rib injury, what to do at home.

The methods of folk therapy have been tested for decades, and therefore there is no reason to doubt their effectiveness. But in conjunction with medications prescribed by the attending physician, they can harm the victim.

Therefore, it is possible to resort to alternative medicine only after the doctor's permission.

Top covered with a film and wrapped in a warm scarf. Keep such a compress for at least two hours. You need to apply it three times a day for three days.

Such a tool is characterized by an analgesic effect.

Applied to the hematoma and cabbage leaves, which reduce swelling and inflammation in the tissues. Cabbage leaves can be applied at night, pre-tightly fixing the vegetable on the body.

It is irreplaceable with bruises of the bodyguard.

Her powder is purchased at a pharmacy or cosmetic store, in equal parts bred with cold boiled water and applied to the place of injury.

Bodyaga has a resolving effect, effectively removes swelling and bruising, which makes it a worthy alternative to expensive creams and ointments.

After the doctor will allow you to hold warming compresses, you can begin to drink decoction of arnica.

This herb is also purchased at the pharmacy and brewed according to the instructions for use indicated on its packaging Arnica Has a warming and anti-inflammatory effect, starts regeneration processes and helps to recover faster after an injury.

How long does the bruise of the ribs heal?

The resulting injury refers to minor injuries and, in the absence of complications, does not threaten the patient's further health and life. If the first aid is provided correctly, all the expert's recommendations are followed, the patient receives a comprehensive treatment, then the recovery will be rapid.

Painful sensations persist until almost complete cure, but their intensity becomes weaker every day, and they appear less often.

Often patients note the presence of dull pain after the doctor announced his recovery - this is one of the features of chest injuries.

Experiencing is not necessary: ​​if recovery is confirmed by "visual" diagnostics, such feelings will soon go away.

A source: https://TravmaOff.ru/ushib/reber.html

How to identify and cure a rib bruise

A bruised rib is a common trauma.

It can be received in the home or on the street when falling or striking with a blunt object.

It is not as dangerous as a fracture of the ribs, but it can lead to complications and difficulty breathing.

• Symptoms
• Diagnostics
• Treatment
• Frequently asked Questions

For the bruise of the ribs, the following symptoms are typical:

Severe and severe pain when injured

Because of the great innervation in the rib area, there are unbearable painful sensations, which in due course weaken.

Pain in the place of injury

Increase when breathing and movements with the trunk. They can bother from several days to several months.

Bruises in the area of ​​damage

The more damage to blood vessels is in the injury, the greater the size of the bruise. At first, the hematoma becomes crimson or brown, then gradually turns pale to yellow and disappears.

Labored breathing

Because of pain in the ribs, there are possible problems with breathing: unpleasant sensations during inspiration, shallow breathing, and if there is damage to the lungs, breathing may stop.

Edema

After a while after the injury, it can become denser, but with time the puffiness disappears.

Hot to the touch leather

Immediately after the bruise, the skin in the damaged area turns red and becomes hot.

Diagnostics

To determine the bruise of the ribs is not difficult, but to exclude fracture and damage to the internal organs, an X-ray examination will be required. It allows the doctor to assess the condition of the bones and their integrity, to see damage to the internal organs.

Treatment

First aid

To reduce pain and avoid complications, you need to know what to do immediately after getting injured.

• Explore the place of injuryand make sure that there are no dents and bumps. If they are present, you need to urgently consult a doctor, a fracture of the ribs is possible.
• Adhere to bed rest. Limit motor activity, sudden movements with contusion of ribs are strictly prohibited.
• Take painkillerswith severe pain. For example, "Ibuprofen" or "Diclofenac".
• Lie on the bruised side. This will make breathing easier.
• Apply to the damaged area a cold. It will reduce pain and swelling. First, apply a pressure bandage on the ribs, then cover it with a towel moistened with cold water or put a packet of ice on top.

If after the injury there was dizziness, a cough with blood, movement coordination was disrupted, the heart rate changed, you need to seek medical help urgently.

Professional Therapy

The doctor prescribes treatment according to the severity of the injury and symptoms:

• Drug treatment: the use of analgesics and analgesic ointments, with the increase in temperature prescribed antipyretic drugs.
• Exercises of respiratory gymnastics will help to develop bruised ribs and get rid of aching pains.
• Physiotherapeutic procedures are appointed after the patient's condition is improved and the usual motor activity is returned to him.
• UHF, amplipulse, electrophoresis, electric heater and blue lamp.

Folk remedies

To accelerate the recovery process will help the traditional medicine:

• Leaves of aloe. Crush several leaves of aloe, mix them with honey and apply to the damaged place. This tool will accelerate the healing process and reduce swelling.
• Decoction of chamomile with Ledum. Blossom chamomile and Ledum flower in a glass or metal container and pour boiling water, let it brew, strain. The resulting means rub the area of ​​the injury.
• Red geranium remedy. Make a decoction of the leaves of geranium and use it for local compresses.
• Chicory root.

If the bruise of the ribs is strong, there is a shortness of breath, aching pains often change dramatically, tight bandage of the rib cage and the taking of pain medications are necessary. It is important to undergo a checkup to check lung function.

Frequently asked Questions

Immediately after the injury, it is necessary to perform all actions for the provision of first aid and to exclude a fracture. Do not self-medicate.

Consult a doctor who will prescribe a test and a comprehensive treatment.

Why did not the bruises appear after the injury?

After a bruise, the skin reddens due to a rupture of capillaries and blood vessels, liquid or coagulated blood accumulates in the damaged area.

This is what causes bruises. But not always with bruises of ribs appear bruises.

If cold is applied immediately after getting an injury to the damaged area, hematomas can be avoided.

How to identify a fracture or bruise?

Exclude a fracture can only a doctor after the X-ray study. But in the first minutes after getting the injury, you can do it yourself.

Carefully pass your hand over the bruised place: a swelling may appear, but there should be no protuberances or dents.

Then examine the entire thorax, the protrusions may appear not only on the site of the injury.

How much will it hurt?

The site of the injury can hurt from several days to several months. It depends on the degree of damage and the correctness of the treatment. The most important thing during the recovery period is to avoid physical exertion, and in the first 2 days to comply with bed rest.

What ointments to use?

With bruises of ribs, doctors often appointIbuprofen- an anti-inflammatory non-steroidal agent that effectively fights pain. It should be applied to the damaged area 3-4 times a day.

Anti-inflammatory effect has andNurofen. This ointment is rubbed into the skin until it is completely dissolved.

Another effective tool -Voltaren. It is made on the basis of phenylacetic acid, removes the inflammatory syndrome.

Contusion of ribs is a serious injury that rarely threatens the life of the victim, but can lead to serious complications.

If you do not get timely medical help, you may develop prolonged pain syndrome, hypoxia, hydrothorax, pneumothorax or pneumonia.

Treatment takes place in several stages, ends with rehabilitation, which returns to a full life.

A source: http://webortoped.ru/zakryityie_povrezhdeniya/ushibyi/reber.html

Symptoms and treatment of rib contusion

Contusion of the rib - is the most common mechanical damage, occurs due to the influence of external factors (when falling from a height, due to a strong impact in the chest area, damage after road transport accidents). Unfortunately, none of us are immune from such injuries, but we must remember that even a minor injury can lead to undesirable complications. Therefore, it is important to consult the doctor on time to exclude a fracture of the rib.

Such injuries do not constitute a mortal threat to life, but can significantly worsen the general condition of a person. the function of the ribs is to protect the internal organs, and they also take part in breathing. Because of their mobility, any damage can cause painful sensations.

A severe rib contusion requires a thorough examination and diagnosis of qualified specialists in the field of traumatology.

Symptomatology

There are some symptoms of rib contusion that will help in the provision of emergency medical care and in its further treatment. The main complaints of the victim:

• Acute pain directly in the area of ​​the injury, which is aggravated during breathing or movements;
• Minor swelling in the area of ​​injury with the formation of a hematoma;
• Extensiveness of the bruise depends on the severity of the bruise, basically its color is sufficiently dark, its shade can vary (from rich red to pale yellow);
• The skin at the injury site becomes hot;
• Redness of the injured area of ​​the skin can be observed.

The symptoms of rib contusion and treatment have a clear relationship, because further therapy directly depends on the severity of the symptoms.

Degrees of injury

For proper treatment it is necessary to determine the degree of contusion of the ribs. There are several of them:

• The first degree - is characterized by insignificant painful sensations, which are accompanied by motion, at rest, pain can be dulled, does not require urgent medical hospitalization in hospital;
• The second degree - the patient feels constant aching pain, it is possible the formation of a hematoma, in this case it is necessary will seek help from a traumatologist, make an x-ray examination to exclude a fracture or fracture ribs;
• The third degree - occurs during severe injuries, is accompanied by acute pain, a violation of breathing, as one of the consequences may be squeezing the lungs.

Complications

The bruise of the ribs is not as dangerous as those complications that may occur after trauma. To ensure that they are not exacerbated, it is necessary to conduct diagnostics in a timely manner.

Also, do not ignore the sudden increase in body temperature - this can be a signal about the presence of an inflammatory process.

Hypoxia (insufficient supply of the body with oxygen) is another unpleasant complication, which causes a number of undesirable, and sometimes dangerous consequences for the body. In the first place, the central nervous system suffers, the heart, the liver - the most important organs.

Diagnosis, examination of the chest

The traumatologist conducts a thorough examination of the chest, palpates the ribs. These studies are necessary in order to exclude fracture and damage to internal organs (heart, lungs).

The best way to diagnose is X-ray.

Only with the help of an X-ray can you accurately determine the location and number of fractures, and ultrasound examines blood clots and air bubbles in the pleura.

Even for diagnosis, CT is used, it carefully checks the injured ribs and detects even small changes in the structure of the lungs, heart, blood vessels.

First aid, first aid

What to do with a rib bruise? The basic rules for the provision of pre-emergency emergency care - anesthetize and prevent the occurrence of complications in the future.

In order to help the victim, you need to first assess the severity of the injury. The presence of bulging ribs under the skin or the appearance of "dents" in the chest area may indicate a fracture.

In this case, urgent hospitalization is needed.

If the bruise is characterized only by slight painful sensations, without bruising and does not cause inconvenience, then a treatment option at home is possible. You can smear Diclofenac, Indomethacin - it's anti-inflammatory drugs with analgesic effect.

To anesthetize the injured area it is necessary to use cold (do not apply ice on the skin - only with a fabric lining to avoid frostbite).

Cold packs are rational to use immediately after an injury. The victim must adhere to strict bed rest.

Reduce for the period of rehabilitation tedious exercise and sports activities.

Treatment for pain

How to treat rib bruises? A rib bruise causes severe pain, so one of the goals of therapy is anesthesia. It is also an excellent prophylaxis against the infection of the respiratory tract.

During the treatment of a bruised rib, paracetamol, analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs are used. The doctor will prescribe the exact dose and regularity of the use of therapeutic agents. It is possible to use a tight bandage on the damaged area.

After the pain has decreased, it is possible to begin to gradually restore the damaged functions of the chest. This will help easy slopes and turns, but they need to be done smoothly, without sudden movements. Increase the load is recommended gradually.

Home Treatment

The whole handbooks of folk medicine are devoted to the study of the symptoms of rib bruise and treatment at home. Even our grandmothers knew how to treat a bruised rib with the help of folk methods.

A proven tool was the application of cabbage leaf to injury.

An anesthetic ointment made from ingredients such as aloe and honey will help to anesthetize it, it is smeared with an injured part of the chest.

Healing of a strong bruise of the rib will help the leaves of plantain - rub the leaves before starting the juice and apply to the damaged area, changing the bandage several times a day.

Tincture of the flowers of calendula helps to effectively repair the damaged tissue.

To prepare a healing broth, pour two spoons of boiled water with one spoonful of dried flowers.

A good anesthetic and regenerating remedy is chicory, but it takes at least 2 weeks to prepare this remedy. 100 grams of chicory and 500 ml of vodka are used, after which the remedy should be infused for 14 days. After the expiration of this period, you can lubricate the bruise.

What to do if the ribs hurt, if the effect of folk methods is missing? It is almost impossible to detect the site of a bruise without the help of an X-ray study, so if the damage is accompanied by prolonged pain, then this is the reason to seek medical help. In the presence of such an injury there are many complications, so people's funds can be used only after a doctor's examination.

Rehabilitation

The contusion of the ribs is not a very terrible disease, most importantly, do not despair and believe in a speedy recovery.

Rehabilitation depends on the nature of the trauma and the individual characteristics of the organism. To restore the therapeutic exercise, massage.

To reduce edema and improve circulation use ultrasound, magnetotherapy.

It is necessary to observe the correct diet. To restore bone tissue, the victim needs to eat foods that are high in vitamins and minerals. It is useful to eat fresh vegetables and fruits: green vegetables, olives, sesame, nuts, persimmons, currants.

For rapid recovery, breathing exercises will be effective. First you need to breathe quickly and superficially, then take deep breaths and hold the air for a few seconds. This gymnastics allows you to saturate the lungs with oxygen and prevents the development of inflammation.

In time, prescribed treatment and effective diagnosis are the key to a quick recovery. Therefore, when treating the bruise of the ribs, all the recommendations of the trauma specialist must be carefully followed.

A source: https://PerelomaNet.ru/ushiby/ushib-reber-pri-padenii.html

Contusion of ribs

Contusion of ribs- trauma of soft tissues (skin, subcutaneous tissue, muscles) in the chest area. Occurs in a fall, impact or compression.

Unlike most other chest injuries, it is classified as a light injury and does not pose a potential danger to life. May be accompanied by a fairly intense pain syndrome, swelling, bruising, or hemorrhage.

Diagnosis is made after the exclusion of other injuries of the chest. The treatment is conservative, the period of incapacity for work is up to 1 month.

Contusion of ribs is the easiest trauma of the chest. With such damage, only superficially located soft tissues usually suffer, and the bones and internal organs remain intact.

Such damage, even with the integrity of the ribs, can be life threatening to the patient and require urgent specialist treatment.

Therefore, careful differential diagnosis of chest injuries, the exclusion of severe injuries and correct choice of treatment tactics are the most important tasks of specialists working in the field of traumatology and orthopedics.

Symptoms of a bruised rib

The patient with bruised ribs is troubled by pain, which intensifies with deep breathing and movements. In the area of ​​the bruise appears swelling. There are foci of hemorrhages of various sizes and shapes. With sliding strokes, hematomas are often formed. Soft tissues are painful when palpated.

It is difficult to assess the level of pain during palpation of the rib in the area of ​​injury, since this part is in the zone of soreness of soft tissues. To exclude fracture of a rib, it is possible, having pressed on an edge on some distance from area of ​​a bruise - if a bone is whole, pressure will be painless.

Another symptom that allows differentiating the bruises of the ribs from fractures is pressure on the chest. The traumatologist puts both palms on the side surfaces of the chest and squeezes it gently.

If a sharp increase in pain is absent - it is highly likely to exclude fracture of the ribs on the basis of clinical examination. It should be borne in mind that severe injuries (concussion, pneumothorax,

) in some cases may occur even in the absence of fractures. Auscultation is performed to assess the state of the respiratory system.

With uncomplicated bruises, the lungs are tapped in all departments, breathing on the sore side can be slightly weakened. Percutaneous lung borders are normal.

An easy degree of concussion of the lung is accompanied by poorly expressed clinical manifestations. The patient complains of a feeling of lack of air, the examination reveals a change in the rhythm and frequency of breathing.

With severe concussion, the patient's condition worsens, acute respiratory failure develops. Breathing becomes frequent, superficial and uneven. The skin acquires a cyanotic color. Patients and palms of the patient are cold, wet. Pulse is rapid, arrhythmia is possible.

Such conditions are life-threatening and require intensive care.

In some cases, ruptures of sufficiently large vessels and bronchi are possible. In patients with a slight bruise of the lung, dyspnea and hemoptysis occur.

During the examination, a local weakening of breathing and blunting of the percussion sound are found.

In severe contusions develops acute respiratory failure, which is manifested by weighting general condition, breathing disorders, cyanosis, heart rhythm disturbances, cold extremities and and so forth. As with severe shocks of the lungs, intensive therapy is required.

Hemotorax with rib contusions that do not combine with fractures rarely occurs.

An exception may be cases in which a patient with a bruise has bleeding disorders, there is a tumor of the pleura or near-pleural regions of the lung.

Small hemothorax does not appear in any way and is only detected by radiography. With a large hemothorax, there is a decrease in blood pressure, tachycardia, dyspnea, cyanosis, cough and chest pain.

Pneumothorax with contusion of ribs is often formed against the background of already existing pathology: pleural joints, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, lung tumors, etc., although the development of this pathology is possible even with healthy lungs. The patient's condition deteriorates sharply, which is associated not only with the decline of the lung, but also with changes in the position of the heart.

There is a rapidly increasing suffocation, swelling of the cervical veins, cyanosis, a decrease in blood pressure, an increase in heart rate and other signs of progressive acute respiratory failure.

Palpator under the skin of the upper half of the body can be found areas of air accumulation, with the palpation of which you hear a soft tender crunch. Breathing on the sore side is absent, with percussion tympanic or boxed sound is determined. It is possible to shift the boundaries of the heart.

The primary differential diagnosis of rib contusion is performed taking into account the patient's condition and examination data. For the final elimination of severe damage, chest radiography is prescribed.

With bruises of the lung, foci of darkening are detected, which do not coincide with the boundaries of lobes and segments, it is possible the appearance of ribbon-like fading bands along the course of certain bronchi.

With hemothorax, a prominent, contrasting homogeneous darkening with a horizontally located upper border appears in the lower sections.

With pneumothorax, the pulmonary pattern is absent in the areas of lung collapse, the mediastinum shadow is shifted to a healthy side, sometimes air layers are visible under the skin.

In doubtful cases, in addition to radiography, MRI of the lungs can be prescribed, which allows to detect small areas of the lung's decline, small foci of hemorrhages, etc.

If pathological manifestations from the ribs and internal organs are absent, the bruise of the ribs is diagnosed.

First aid and treatment of bruised ribs

The injured person should be given an analgesic, cold should be applied to the area of ​​the injury - this will help reduce edema, hemorrhages and hematomas.

Even with a satisfactory condition and no signs of severe injury to the patient's thorax, it is urgently needed to deliver to a traumatic station or a traumatological hospital, since at the initial stages severe damages can occur is asymptomatic.

Delivery is best done in a sitting or semi-sitting position - this will help the victim to facilitate breathing.

A patient with a bruised rib is recommended to limit physical activity. Sleep better in a semi-sitting position (with a large pillow or a raised head end of the bed).

Breast bandage should be used with caution, only with severe pain and for a short while, because the bandage not only reduces pain, but also limits chest excursions.

This entails a worsening of the ventilation of the lungs and increases the likelihood of posttraumatic bronchitis and pneumonia, especially in older people and patients with respiratory diseases system.

With intense pain, analgesics are prescribed. Patients are referred to UHF, and then to electrophoresis. It is advised to perform breathing exercises to prevent hypoventilation.

With prolonged non-absorbable hematomas of soft tissues, an opening and drainage is performed. Recovery usually occurs within a period of up to 1 month.

A source: http://www.krasotaimedicina.ru/diseases/traumatology/bruised-ribs

Contusion of ribs

Contusion of the rib is a mechanical damage, as a rule, without disrupting the integrity of the skin and actually the rib itself. A bruise can lead to a fall even from a slight height or a blunt object blow into the chest area.

The ribs are long plates that refer to flat bones and are located on both sides of the sternum in a total number of 24 (12 on each side).

Given the anatomical features of their structure (mobility, well-developed innervation, participation in the act of breathing, intimacy internal organs), even minor damage can cause severe local pain and an unfavorable prognosis for future.

Especially on condition that under the bruise the fracture of the rib is masked, which was not diagnosed in time.

To avoid this, it is necessary to clearly define the status of the damage, use a differential diagnostics, first of all, with broken ribs, to conduct adequate therapy, often even on prehospital stage.

By itself, the diagnosis of bruised ribs is not critical. This pathology is well treatable and, with proper subsequent rehabilitation, is completely harmless to the patient's health.

Symptoms

Like any tissue damage caused by a traumatic factor, the bruise of the ribs is manifested by intense pain sensations of an acute nature, which are intensified by movement and breathing.

Pain in the affected area occurs immediately after the injury. Especially it is manifested in movements in which the thorax is involved - acts of inhalation and exhalation, sneezing, coughing, torso turns to the side and inclines.

Palpation is easy to determine the boundaries of the lesion, as the pain syndrome, when pressed on the bruised rib, is significantly strengthened.

The lesion is easily visualized:

• At the site of the injury, there is swelling and swelling, painful when touched.
• A hematoma forms. Since the ribs are located in close proximity to the skin, with a branched network of blood vessels, subcutaneous blood clusters are quite abundant. The appearance of a hematoma is manifested by a change in skin color: from red to blue and violet.
• It is possible to form a seal at the site of the injury.

Combined bruises are the most dangerous when the lung is affected simultaneously with the ribs.

A sign of such damage is shortness of breath, until it stops completely.

Combined injury requires immediate first aid and urgent hospitalization of the victim.

Diagnosis, collection of anamnesis

When making a diagnosis, great importance is given to collecting an anamnesis of the disease. The doctor should find out the reason: if this is a mechanical trauma - the force and direction of the impact, if the fall - at what height.

Of no less importance is general examination, palpation of the bruised area of ​​the chest and auscultation of the lungs and heart for the presence of extraneous noise and wheezing.

If a rib is bruised, it is always advisable to perform a chest x-ray or fluoroscopy in two projections - a direct and a side.

This should be done to exclude fracture of the rib, which often at the initial stage (especially if it is a fracture without displacement of fragments) can be masked for bruising.

Also informative is the tapping on the patient's chest (after a preliminary assessment of the patient's general condition): if there is a fracture, cough and sputum with blood streaks will be noted. This suggests that there is a fracture of the rib and a light stroke. With bruises of this symptomatology there.

In addition to suspected fracture of the rib, differential diagnosis is performed with intercostal neuralgia, with the leading place belongs to collecting an anamnesis - the presence or absence of a previous injury.

Concomitant damage and complications

Contusion of the rib is not as dangerous asfracture, when a broken bone can damage the integrity of the pleural membrane and cause a complete stop of breathing.

In case of trauma, a complex of diagnostic measures must be carried out in order to eliminate the violation of the integrity of the rib.

The accumulation of air (pneumothorax) or fluid (hydrothorax) in the pleural cavity, caused by damage to the lung end of the broken rib, can cause serious disturbances in the respiratory system.

Ribbed edge.With such a fracture, there is no displacement of fragments of damaged bone, determined palpation.

Severe rib contusion in combination with a trauma to the lungcan cause internal bleeding - the accumulation of blood in the chest, namely in the pleural cavity. Because of the increased pressure, the injured lung does not participate in the breathing process, the patient's condition deteriorates sharply, immediate hospitalization is required.

Inflammatory process.

The development of inflammation in the injured area is manifested primarily by a significant increase in body temperature.

Ignoring this symptom can lead to the development of serious diseases, one of which is post-traumatic pneumonia.

By itself, the rib contusion is characterized by a long and intense pain syndrome that does not last for several weeks, and sometimes months (depending on the severity of the injury). Restriction of activity, constant discomfort and pain during movement can causestress conditions.

Since deep breathing in and out with the "full breast" of the patient is not able to because of the intense pain that arises, a lack of oxygen can cause the developmenthypoxia.

The most damaging is the lack of oxygen in the venous blood, "saturated" from the lungs, for the heart, the central nervous system, kidneys and liver.

Treatment of hematoma

The general principles of treatment of rib contusions are reduced to a number of specific measures - prevention and treatment hematomas, relieving muscle tension and pain, as well as limiting mobility in the area thorax.

Hematoma.

The impact damages the muscle layer of the chest (at the point of application of force) with the rupture of muscle fibers and the appearance of local internal bleeding, which is formed from blood vessels feeding muscle. With the progression of this process, a blood clot begins to press on nearby nerve fibers, strengthening pain sensations.

To combat hematoma, ice packs (or any other object that provides cold) are used, which are applied externally to the site of injury.

This makes it possible to slow the intensity of the hemorrhage or to stop it, to remove the swelling of the tissues, which, in turn, will facilitate the general condition of the patient and relieve the pain. The most effective treatment of cold in the first day after injury.

Further, internal hemorrhage therapy is carried out with the help of various resorptive ointments and compresses.

If the hematoma is large, the hematoma is punctured with the extraction of its contents.

With minor damage to conservative therapy, it is enough (if bed rest is observed in the early days) so that the symptoms of the injury disappear and the patient returns to a normal lifestyle.

The most effective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that are used locally, on the surface of the skin at the site of damage: various gels and ointments.

Their use is advisable to start from the second day after the injury.

If the suspected lung contusion, as well as to prevent stagnant phenomena in them, the doctor can prescribe antispasmodics such as euphyllin or its analogues (according to the mechanism of action). Expectorant therapy is also recommended.

With the appearance of severe pain, it will be advisable to carry out the Novocain blockade, in rare cases - the use of narcotic analgesics(provided that a thorough diagnosis and a fractured rib is excluded).

Restriction of movement. Regardless of the diagnosis (bruise or fracture), which will put the specialist, to limit movement is necessary immediately after the injury.

This is due to the fact that during movement, especially with increased physical exertion, the lungs start more intensively participate in the act of breathing, moving the chest (the ribs are its main component).

With a bruise, every movement will intensify the pain, and if there is a suspicion of a fracture, it will lead to more sad consequences - traumatization of the pleural cavity with fragments of the rib.

The most simple and effective restriction of motion is bed rest in the first two days after the injury.

This will make it possible to prevent the development of stagnant phenomena in the lungs.

Of other methods of treating the injury, it is worth noting such procedures as physiotherapy (electrophoresis, UHF), which is applied by the end of the first week after injury, breathing exercises, treatment with dry heat (not earlier than on the second day after the injury) and various folk methods of therapy.

Of the complications of contusion of the ribs, it is necessary to isolate such conditions as pneumonia, hydro- or pneumothorax, prolonged pain syndrome and a long subfebrile temperature, which may indicate the development of chronic inflammatory process. To exclude them, you should immediately turn to specialists and follow all recommendations for diagnosing the disease, treatment and subsequent rehabilitation.

First aid, professional

First aid at the prehospital stage is of great importance in case of damage of this type.

First aid includes the following activities:

1. Elimination of fracture of the rib. Of course, the most effective method is an x-ray study. But if immediately after the trauma there is no possibility to do it, knowledge will be useful that will help determine the fracture by external signs: the presence of bulging under the skin of the rib elements (not necessarily at the site of impact), the appearance of dents in the chest and strong protuberances (a slight swelling is allowed when bruise).

Pain syndrome from the first minutes of the injury in the fracture is more pronounced. There is a crepitation of the ribs (a kind of "crunching" of bones on inhaling and exhaling). If there is a suspicion of a fracture, it is necessary to call a doctor.

1. In any case, the patient needs to ensure peace. The first days - a strict bed rest.
2. Apply cold to the damaged area. This can be an ice pack, a bottle of chilled liquid or snow, for example. Cold is effective in the first day after the injury.Further, warming ointments and compresses are used.
3. Reception of analgesics. The most effective for such injuries is ibuprofen, diclofenac (both in tablets and ointments on its basis).
4. Obligatory consultation of the medical expert for exception of defeat of internal organs, especially lungs.

Which doctor heals

If the ribs are bruised, the orthopedic traumatologist should be consulted for the final diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

If the impact with the injury was insignificant, the pain in the damaged area is not strong, passing after the application of the cold, you can simply make a chest x-ray to exclude fracture of the ribs. A qualified radiologist will be able to determine its presence according to the results of the study. Be healthy.

A source: http://www.knigamedika.ru/travmy-i-otravleniya/grudnayakletka/ushib-reber.html