What anatomical structures may be at risk with 1st and 2nd rib fractures?
Brachial plexus and subclavian vasculature injury.
What kind of mechanism of injury are sternal fractures most associated with?
Motor vehicle accidents are the number one cause.
- Right 1st and 2nd rib fractures. The right first rib is broken in two positions, anteriorly between the right subclavian artery and vein with moderate displacement and posteriorly with minimal displacement. No contrast extravasation from these vessels to suggest active haemorrhage.
- Left 1st to 6th rib fractures. All these ribs have fractures occurring at two places (indicating a flail segment), one posteriorly with marked displacement and one anteriorly along the rib with minimal displacement.
- A minimally displaced fracture of the manubrium.
- Extensive gas within the mediastinum, root of the great vessels, and within the anterior aspect of the pericardium. There is further gas within the pectoralis major muscle and within the subcutaneous tissue bilaterally.
- Bilateral small haemopneumothoraces.