CA
A 34-year-old member asked:
treatment options for multiple rib fractures? thanks!
2 doctor answers • 6 doctors weighed in

Dr. Matthew Ennaanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 20 years experience
Pain control: Rib fractures usually do not require surgery or any sort of splinting. The key to treating rib fractures is to get the pain under control with anti-inflammatories, and narcotics if necessary. Ice and/or heat to the area may help with the pain as well.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Benjamin Tayloranswered
Orthopedic Surgery 16 years experience
Depends: It depends on where and how many they are. If they aren't really displaced or you don't have 3 or not in a row with 2+ fractures on each rib (flail chest), you probably don't need surgery.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
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Similar questions
A 32-year-old member asked:
How do you treat multiple rib fractures?
2 doctor answers • 6 doctors weighed in

Dr. Ahmad M Hadiedanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 49 years experience
Let me help: In most cases, broken ribs heal on their own in one or two months. Adequate pain control is important, so you can continue to breathe deeply and avoid lung complications, such as pneumonia.Good luck, thank you.
6k viewsReviewed Dec 13, 2020
A 32-year-old member asked:
The thought of getting multiple rib fractures scares me. What are risk factors for it?
2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in

Dr. Ahmad M Hadiedanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 49 years experience
Let me help you: There are some reasons why some body will have multiple rib fractures without trauma, osteoporosis of the bone(weak bone), the other bone cancer (multiple myeloma) and could cancer metastasize from other place(kidney , lung , breast)good luck thank you.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
What are the tests for multiple rib fractures?
3 doctor answers • 8 doctors weighed in

Dr. Bruce Prageranswered
Sports Medicine 42 years experience
Rib Fractures: Physical exam is the first thing that needs to be done. A good chest xray will usually pick up rib fractures. Rarely is a more advanced imaging necessary such as ct.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
What are the symptoms following multiple rib fractures?
2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in

Dr. Bruce Prageranswered
Sports Medicine 42 years experience
Pain: Rib fractures are not easy to diagnose without xrays. Even then they can sometimes be hard to pick up. Pain right over the chest wall which is increased with sneezing or coughing. If you are having difficulty breathing then you need to see a physician. In some cases an injury which causes multiple rib fractures can puncture the lungs.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Blacksburg, VA
A 22-year-old male asked:
Diagnosed with multiple rib fractures and snapping scapula. Do I need to seek a surgeon?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

Dr. Sean Kearneyanswered
Specializes in Orthopedic Surgery
Snapping scapula: Yes, I would recommend consulting an orthopedic surgery who performs scapulothoracic arthroscopy (scope surgery) to see if you are a candidate
2.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more. Get help now:
Last updated Feb 15, 2019
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