Broken Rib Surgery

What are ribs?

• Ribs are flat bones that normally have a protective role in the body
• Humans normally have 24 ribs, or 12 pairs of 2
• They protect the heart/lungs

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How can you tell if you have a broken rib?

• Your chest hurts when you take a deep breath
• Coughing/laughing hurts
• It hurts to twist your body

How can you break a rib?

• From tramua such as a fall, car acciedent, ect
• From contact sports (ie- football)
• Any time you are hit hard in the chest
• When doing CPR, you can break someone else's rib

What is broken rib surgery?

• It uses titanium plates to stabilize the ribs
• Also called "Rib fixation"
• It uses titanium plates to stabilize the ribs
• Though, most broken ribs are just healed with time. The person has to take a break from sports, ect until they are better

What are the risks?

• death
• pneumonia
• need for mechanical ventilation
• pain, hemothorax, pneumothorax, extrapleural hematoma, pulmonary contusion, pulmonary laceration, acute vascular injury, and abdominal solid-organ injury

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