A 32-year-old member asked:
Could a rib fracture affect the heart?
4 doctor answers • 9 doctors weighed in
Dr. Marianna Postanswered
Family Medicine 19 years experience
Rarely: Most of the time no, but if in doubt, get x-ray and ECG
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Dr. Creighton Wrightanswered
surgery 58 years experience
Not usually: With multiple anterior left ribs broken and flail it might?
Uncommon.
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Dr. Gerald Mandellanswered
Nuclear Medicine 54 years experience
Infrequent: A myocardial contusion is contusion (bruise) of the cardiac muscle (heart muscle). It is usually a consequence of blunt trauma to the anterior chest wall, and the right heart is thought to be most commonly affected because of anterior position. Usually, there are associated injuries such as sternal and/or rib fracture, .
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
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Dr. Nir Husanswered
General Surgery 18 years experience
Rib and heart : Rib fractures can affect the heart in many ways:
It my puncture the pericardium, it may damage the heart, it may cause tamponad, to name a few.
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477 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Nov 14, 2017
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