What do you do if someone got a fractured rib?

Pain control: Pain control is the mainstay for fractured ribs. Only on rare occasions, when patients are polytraumatized, we will operate on them using plates and screws to improve their lung function and decrease their stay in the icu. Otherwise, we let them heal on their own.

X-ray, exam: We usually will get an xrays to document the fracture but also to make sure there is not an associated collapsed lung (pneumothorax). Management after that is primarily activity restrictions and pain control. Most fractures heal at about 8-12 weeks.