
pain, dyspnea) or complications, such as pulmonary herniation, pneumothorax or diaphragmatic laceration, the surgical approach should be considered, as thromboembolic events are the post-operatory main complication . In cases of daily activities limiting symptoms (e.g.
#Cough hurt rib manual
Manual workers whose jobs involved lifting heavy weight seem to be at more risk for costal arch fracture . Our patient was a retired policeman without history of weightlifting.Ĭonservative treatment is the first-choice approach. In our case, both fractured ribs were on the left side . described the right side as the most common location (57%), especially the right tenth rib (42.8%).

In most patients, the fracture is solitary (64.3%), and Sano et al. The chest pain that costochondritis causes can range from mild to severe. a tissue that connects the breastbone and ribs.
#Cough hurt rib series
In the case series reported by Mary Parks et al., 66.7% of the patients had also a history of COPD and all of them had smoking history . coughing up sputum, a green or rusty phlegm, from the lungs high fever. Some conditions have been described as risk factors for cough-induced rib fractures, such as COPD, osteoporosis, rheumatic arthritis, and chronic corticosteroids use . The chest X-ray posteroanterior view showed an oval well-defined hypodensity in the left lower zone (Figure 1).Ĭough-induced rib fracture usually is related to recurrent mechanical stress to the ribs, when the cough force is greater than the elastic limits of the ribs, which causes a fracture over the most vulnerable location . Laboratory studies revealed a mild leukocytosis (11.8 x 10³ leukocytes/mm³) without left shift. His clinical examination revealed reduced air entry at the left lung base, an abnormal swelling on the left hypochondriac region, and a hard, painful, palpable mass lying immediately under, which was more prominent during inspiration. The patient was obese and had a history of arterial hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Moreover, there was no fever, rash, vomiting, or diarrhea. The pain was constant, intense (10/10), nonspecific, localized in the right upper quadrant, and not relieved with analgesic use. If the rib is broken, you may feel or hear a cracking sensation particularly on twisting. The patient returned, one week after, complaining of the same symptoms and a new-onset severe abdominal pain. Coughing, sneezing or laughing also hurts more. A diagnosis of acute viral respiratory tract infection was done, and he was discharged with a prescription for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory and decongestant.

A 77-year-old male presented to an ED complaining of productive cough, respiratory discomfort, and flu-like symptom for two weeks.
