What's flail chest caused by?

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.

Fracture of ribs: Fracture of minimumf 2-3 or more consecutive rib at minimum two location. That cause segment of chest wall to move independent to rest of chest wall. Serious condition.

Trauma: Flail chest is caused by trauma. Overwhelmingly the vast majority of these patients have some sort of car accident or motorcycle accident. My hospital is quite busy fixing these, and we only have a few other etiologies.