Traumatology >>>> Fracture of the sternum

Fracture of the sternum.

A fracture of the sternum is a rather rare occurrence in everyday life, but, getting into a situation in which a fracture of this nature can occur, a person does not even suspect what he is dealing with. A fracture of the sternum can be the result of a car accident when the ribcage hits the steering wheel of the car or when the chest hits the front hard backs of the seats during sudden braking. A straight and strong enough blow (push) to the chest can also cause a fracture in the sternum. And, finally, a fracture of the sternum can be obtained by accidentally falling and hitting the chest against any sufficiently hard and voluminous object.

Signs of a fracture of the sternum are not always immediately noticeable, due to the fact that the blow causes pain sensations that hide the true causes of pain: crushing of soft tissues or tissue injury as a result of displacement of parts of the bone. A sternum fracture may not be visible in the presence of rib fractures. With a fracture of the sternum, its parts may or may not be displaced relative to each other, which determines the symptoms of this kind of injury.

Typical symptoms of a sternum fracture:

Pain when inhaling,
Pain when moving the shoulder girdle and / or when bending the trunk,
Pain when palpating the sternum area,
Sometimes the sound of moving bones is heard - crepitus (creaking),
Swelling in the sternum,
When the bones are displaced, a step-like displacement of parts of the sternum bone is visible.

When the fragments are displaced, damage to the tissues adjacent to the sternum is possible, which causes bleeding, edema, and sometimes more severe conditions: accumulated air in the chest (pneumothorax), accumulation of large amounts of blood in the chest (hemothorax) when parts of the sternum are damaged by the tissues of the lungs and large blood vessels.

Diagnosis of a fracture of the sternum is carried out on the basis of the victim's complaints and X-ray examination.

Treatment for a sternum fracture depends on the severity of the fracture and the complications that accompany it. When parts of the sternum bone are displaced, they are repositioned (comparison). To carry out such a procedure, a bed with a shield (or a flat, hard surface such as a bench) is required. A roller is inserted into the interscapular region, which forces the body (chest) to bend in such a way that the chest muscles pull the debris into their natural position and close to each other. The patient is in a supine position until the bones of the sternum are healed. (4-5 weeks).

In the case of a fracture of the sternum without displacement, reposition is not required, but a special wide plaster is glued along the sternum, which is splinted during the healing of a part of the sternum (immobilizing them).

Treatment of a fracture of the sternum is accompanied by analgesic therapy, the use of anti-inflammatory drugs and various procedures to relieve swelling, hematoma resorption. With an uncomplicated fracture of the sternum, bed rest is not required, but lifting loads (of any severity) with your hands, carrying bags, and sudden body movements are prohibited until the fragments are completely fused. The prognosis for a fracture of the sternum is favorable, the restoration of the structure of the sternum goes without consequences. The main thing that needs to be done if you suspect a fracture of the sternum is to contact a medical institution in a timely manner (emergency room, trauma department).