Chest injuries can occur due to various reasons, including falls, accidents, or penetrating injuries. It can be minor or severe, requiring immediate medical attention. Chest injuries can cause damage to the chest wall, the ribs, the lungs, the heart, and other organs within the chest. In this article, we will discuss different types of chest injuries and their symptoms.
Types of Chest Injuries:
Chest injuries can range from minor bruising to life-threatening conditions. Some common types of chest injuries are:
- Chest bruising and abrasions
- Broken bones, such as rib fractures or a fractured sternum
- Flail chest, which occurs when multiple adjacent ribs break
- Damage to the heart or the aorta
- Damage to the lungs, such as pulmonary contusion
- Penetrating chest injuries that can cause damage to the chest wall or any organs inside the chest
- Injuries to the diaphragm, trachea, or esophagus
Flail Chest
If several ribs are broken in multiple places, a flail chest can occur. It is a potentially life-threatening condition where part of the chest wall moves the opposite way to the rest. The affected part of the chest wall can move inward during inhalation and outward during exhalation. A flail chest can also cause damage to the lungs, making it difficult to breathe. Immediate medical attention is necessary for this condition.
Symptoms of Chest Injuries
The symptoms of chest injuries can vary depending on the type and severity of the injury. Some common symptoms of chest injuries are:
- Chest pain that worsens when laughing, coughing, or sneezing
- Pain when inhaling
- Difficulty breathing
- Tenderness in the chest or back, over the ribs
- Bruising
- A "crunchy or crackling" sensation under the skin or within the ribs
- Blood in the cough
This article was written by an auto accident doctor at Florida Medical Pain Management. Florida Medical Pain Management is proud to offer comprehensive pain management services to a diverse group of patients. Patients at Florida Medical Pain Management can get help managing hip, knee, leg, and neck pain. The practice also offers comprehensive arthritis management, along with treatments for auto accidents, sports, and work injuries.
