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Rib fracture

Case contributed by Abdulmajid Bawazeer
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Mother accidentally hit by her kid on the right chest. Currently tender at site of trauma.

Patient Data

Age: 30 years
Gender: Female
x-ray

There is a cortical disruption in the anterolateral aspect of right 9th rib in keeping with right 9th rib fracture.

Annotated image

There is a cortical disruption in the anterolateral aspect of right 9th rib more evident by the right oblique view in keeping with right 9th rib fracture.

Case Discussion

Non displaced or anterior rib fractures can be difficult to detect on normal PA projection so the oblique view is appreciated as it helps in more detection, however, will not differ as the treatment will rely on pain management.

Frontal radiograph is valuable if rib fracture is accompanied by pneumothorax and/or hemothorax.

Chest CT with bone windows and increasing the thickness and using maximum intensity projection (MIP) is more sensitive in detecting bone and cartilaginous rib fracture.

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