Healing time of a rib fracture
The healing time of a rib fracture depends on the severity of the fracture and also on the number of broken ribs. Uncomplicated rib fractures involving one or two ribs usually heal within the next six weeks. Stable rib fractures that affect three or more ribs and are also on the same side of the chest take a little longer.
At the site of the fracture, the destroyed bone tissue is first resorbed in the first four weeks. A callus is then formed first. This callus consists of soft bony material and is less resilient than the actual bone.
But already after the callus formation, the patient’s pain is significantly reduced. In the further course of time, the soft tissue is replaced by the actual hard and stable bone matrix. It can take up to twelve weeks before the full load-bearing capacity is reached again.
The healing time still depends on the patient’s age and the location of the fracture. Fractures generally heal faster in younger patients who are also still growing. In older patients, on the other hand, the healing period can take considerably longer.
Healing becomes problematic if osteoporosis is present in addition to the rib fracture. In this case, surgical treatment of the fracture becomes necessary to support the body in healing. Surgical treatment is also necessary in other circumstances.
These include, for example, serial rib fractures, i.e. when several fractures lie next to each other. Furthermore, severely splintered fractures or multiple broken ribs must also be reattached to each other in one operation. An operation can accelerate or prolong healing.
This ultimately depends on the surgical technique and the complexity of the fracture. Some rib fractures are rejoined with screws and metal plates. Depending on the type of fracture, these plates can remain in the body or are removed after healing.
In such treated fractures, healing usually takes a little longer. Once the ribs are fully resilient again, the metal plates can be removed. A new operation is then performed, but the wound is usually very small and healing progresses quickly. You can find the main page on the topic “Healing time of a rib fracture” at Healing time of a rib fracture
