Broken Ribs

Diagnosis of Broken Ribs

• During the physical exam, your healthcare provider may:

  • Press gently on the ribs to check for tenderness.

  • Listen to your lungs and watch how your rib cage moves when you breathe.

• Imaging tests that may help diagnose broken ribs include:

  • X-ray: Shows bones using low levels of radiation. Fresh breaks or cracks may not always appear. Can also detect collapsed lungs.

  • CT scan: Detects breaks missed by X-rays and provides detail on soft tissue and blood vessel injuries.

  • MRI: Assesses soft tissues and organs around the ribs and can detect smaller breaks.

  • Bone scan: Useful for detecting stress fractures caused by repetitive trauma. Involves injecting a small amount of radioactive material that collects in healing bones.

Treatment

Healing

• Most broken ribs heal on their own within six weeks.

• Rest and reduced activity help with recovery.

• Ice can help relieve pain and swelling.

Medicines

• Pain relief is important, as shallow breathing from pain can lead to pneumonia.

• If oral medications aren’t enough, nerve blocks (injections) can numb the nerves leading to the ribs.

Therapy

• Once pain is manageable, breathing exercises help restore full lung capacity.

• Deep breathing is important to prevent pneumonia and maintain lung function.