Breastbone contusion

Definition

Bruises to the sternum (sternal contusions) are caused by direct and blunt trauma. The direct trauma could be a blow directly to the sternum, for example. During this trauma the tissue is bruised.

Bruising, swelling or bruising marks may become visible. However, the skin is not visibly damaged. A bruise of the sternum can be accompanied by severe pain and have various causes.

Causes

The causes of a sternum contusion can be varied. A fall can be the cause and is often accompanied by an additional contusion of the ribs. Athletes can also suffer a sternum contusion for various reasons.

Particularly in martial arts, kicks or blows can cause such injuries, which do not necessarily have to be associated with a rib contusion. Likewise ball sports can lead to a contusion in this area. For example, a goalkeeper can be injured by a very strong and fast ball hitting him on the sternum.

In particular, there are also complaints about the occurrence of car accidents. In general, such an injury can occur during any leisure or everyday activity. The decisive factor here is the direct impact of force on the sternum.

This then causes a crushing of the tissue and injuries to the lymphatic and blood vessels. This results in bruising and swelling. Bruising marks can become visible.

However, as described above, the skin remains intact. Pain in the breastbone – Is this dangerous? Breastbone contusions are often caused by car accidents.

In this case, the injured person bumps hard against the steering wheel, for example. Also the seat belt can build up a strong pressure in an accident and lead to a bruise. In most cases, the sternum bruise is not the only injury.

Typical additional injuries are contusions of the ribs or even fractures. In addition, whiplash injuries (cervical spinal distortion) are often associated with car accidents. The contusion of the sternum itself and the accompanying injuries can lead to very severe pain, which can also increase on the following days.

Symptoms of sternum contusion

Even laughing, sneezing or coughing can lead to pain. For this reason, those affected often take a gentle breath. This means that you only breathe shallowly and avoid deep breaths in order not to feel pain.

This can sometimes even lead to a feeling of breathlessness. The risk of respiratory tract infections also increases. This is because the lungs are not sufficiently ventilated and any mucus that is produced is not coughed up.

This mucus can then become a breeding ground for bacteria and, in the worst case, lead to pneumonia. Breathing exercises and respiratory gymnastics have a preventive effect. Since the arms are connected to the sternum via the collarbones, movements of the arms can cause pain.

Other movements can also lead to pain. This usually leads to a general relieving posture. This relieving posture can lead to an increased load on other parts of the body, which in turn leads to pain in these parts of the body.

Those affected by a bruised sternum often complain of very severe pain similar to a fracture. To be able to exclude a fracture, a doctor should be consulted. The pain can make everyday movements a challenge or even torture.

Many affected people already have severe pain when sneezing and coughing. The quality of the pain can be felt as pulling, stabbing or even dull. The pain can increase even further in the days following the trauma.