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Rib fracture

Case contributed by Mohammad Osama Hussein Yonso
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

History of pain at the left side of chest since yesterday after he slips on the stairs and falls on his left side, on examination: no wound no swelling no redness no hotness, tenderness over the left mid- scapular line.

Patient Data

Age: 60 years
Gender: Male
x-ray
  • x-ray shows a fracture on the left 7th rib at the posterior aspect
  • no clear pleural effusion or pneumothorax is seen.
  • mild thoracolumbar scoliosis curvature to the right side

Annotated zoomed view

x-ray
  • x-ray shows a fracture on the left 7th rib at the posterior aspect
  • no clear pleural effusion or pneumothorax

Case Discussion

One of the complications of rib fractures is pneumothorax, and if it is massive and compressing the lungs, it is considered an emergency case.

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