Question 1

what is flail chest?

Accepted Answer

Broken ribs: Flail chest occurs when a segment of the chest wall moves independent of the rest with respiration due to multiple rib fractures. It is usually the result of major trauma.

Question 2

what's flail chest caused by?

Accepted Answer

Trauma: Flail chest is caused by trauma to the chest, typically blunt force injury. The ribs are broken with this injury creating a situation in which it can be quite painful to breathe. Underlying injuries to the lungs and heart and structures in the chest may be associated with this and can help determine the managent strategy required.

Question 3

how would you treat a flail chest?

Accepted Answer

Pain control plus...: Pain control is key...Depending on the level of associated lung injury, breathing support may be needed--noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (cpap or bipap mask) or intubation/mechanical ventilation. Surgery to stabilize the chest wall may be indicated, but this is controversial.

Question 4

what are the symptoms of flail chest?

Accepted Answer

Flail chest: Flail chest symptoms vary based upon underlying injury to chest structures such as the lungs and heart. Managent also varies based upon the degree of underlying injury, but in general patients have broken ribs and treatment includes supportive care, treatment of pain, preventing further injury, and surgical input from trauma surgeons.

Question 5

what sort of disorder is a flail chest?

Accepted Answer

Flail chest: A flail chest occurs when the chest wall is injured in such a way that  a portion isolated most commonly by multiple rib fratures will move paradoxically in comparision to the remaing chest wall. Thus when taking a deep breath the flail segment gets sucked inward (rather than expanding) or when forcibly breathing out the flail segment moves outward and expand in contrast to the rest of the chest.

Question 6

what are you supposed to do for a flail chest?

Accepted Answer

Not get one: Flail chest is when 2 or 3 or more ribs are fractured in 2 or more places (definition varies). Major issues are controlling pain and maintaining oxygenation. Ribs will heal on their own usually-take 12 weeks, cause they move when we breathe. For severe cases, we utilize titanium plates internally screwed into the ribs to stabilize them. This is becoming a more common procedure in the last 10 years

Question 7

what is the definition or description of: flail chest?

Accepted Answer

Flail chest: Dangerous condition that occurs when part of rib cage breaks from the rest of the chest wall. This is usually due to trauma to the chest wall.

Question 8

what is reconstructive surgery for flail chest?

Accepted Answer

Rare: True flail chest is quite uncommon, and most often a result of severe trauma. It is a result of several serious rib fractures, resulting in inability of the rib cage and attached muscles to help the lung expand properly for breathing. Often it will heal on its own, and if surgery is needed the ribs would be bridged back together with metal plates.

Question 9

what are pericardial tamponade, myocardial contusion, flail chest?

Accepted Answer

See below: Pericardial tamponade is a serious emergency problem of fluid or blood collection in the sac around the heart, causing heart dysfunction. Myocardial contusion is a potentially serious condition of direct trauma and bruising of the heart muscle. Flail chest is a serious problem of multiple rib fractures in several locations on one side of the chest resulting in the lung to not expand correctly.

Question 10

1st rib removed. 2-4 resectioned. 5-6 separated from sternum.  is there danger in having 2-4 resection again?  i have flail chest.

Accepted Answer

Chest surgery: In general, resection of several consecutive ribs do not lead to any major respiratory compromise. It obviously depends on the indication for surgery and the extent of the resection.

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1st rib removed. 2-4 resectioned. 5-6 separated from sternum. is there danger in having 2-4 resection again? i have flail chest.

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