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A member asked:
How likely is it for broken ribs to puncture a lung? and if they do, how long does the person have before they die?
A doctor has provided 1 answer
2 questions: Not very likely that ribs puncture lungs when they are broken in typical situation (non-trauma). When or if they do, the person just doesn't die, air goes into the chest cavity and is usually picked up then because under the skin, will feel like sandpaper. Hours and days could go by. However, if so much air goes into chest or even heart, person could decompensate quick-minutes.
Answered 8/18/2013
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