A 35-year-old man met with a car accident in which his chest struck the steering wheel of his car. He is brought to the emergency with stable vital signs and no respiratory distress but multiple rib fractures are palpable and right side of the chest shows paradoxical movement. Chest x-ray rules out any pneumothorax or hemothorax. What is the most appropriate initial management in this case?
Correct Answer: Analgesia, chest physiotherapy, & observation
Description: This is likely a case of flail chest. It is caused by - Fracture of 2 or > 2 consecutive ribs at 2 or > 2 places Clinical features: Paradoxical Respiration (fractured pa move opposite than rest of the chest) Voluntary splinting due to pain |se risk of respiratory failure Mechanically impaired chest wall movement It is a clinical diagnosis by observe the patient for paradoxical motion of chest wall segment Treatment: O2 administration + adequate analgesia (epidural analgesia) + Physiotherapy If respiratory failure present - Intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV)
Category:
Surgery
Get More
Subject Mock Tests
Practice with over 200,000 questions from various medical subjects and improve your knowledge.
Attempt a mock test nowMock Exam
Take an exam with 100 random questions selected from all subjects to test your knowledge.
Coming SoonGet More
Subject Mock Tests
Try practicing mock tests with over 200,000 questions from various medical subjects.
Attempt a mock test now