Brief overview
- Healing Time: The healing time depends on the severity of the rib contusion and sometimes takes several weeks.
- Symptoms: Pain is the main symptom of this injury.
- Treatment: cooling is an effective first aid for a rib bruise. Depending on the severity of the bruise, the doctor may prescribe medication (for example, painkillers).
- Diagnosis: In addition to a physical examination, the physician usually performs a chest X-ray.
- Course of disease and prognosis: A rib contusion may lead to pneumonia. The course of the disease depends on whether internal organs were injured in addition to the ribs.
- Prevention:Wearing special protective clothing (for example, during sports) may prevent a rib contusion.
Definition of a rib contusion
Duration of a rib contusion
A rib contusion is associated with severe pain and needs sufficient time to heal. Depending on the severity, this can take several weeks.
Sick leave/incapacity to work (AU) after rib contusion
How long you are on sick leave after a rib contusion is decided by the doctor treating you. The duration of the sick leave depends, among other things, on the severity of the bruise and the duration of the symptoms.
Course of illness
In severe cases, blunt chest injuries and rib contusions also lead to contusion of the internal organs, such as cardiac contusion (cardiac contusion) or pulmonary contusion (pulmonary contusion). The heart contusion manifests itself, for example, in cardiac arrhythmias, while a severe lung contusion causes dangerous breathing problems (often only after hours to days).
Symptoms
A bruise mark is sometimes visible on the skin at the site of the injury. If blood vessels were injured in the trauma, a bruise (hematoma) will form.
Rib fracture or rib contusion?
In both a contusion and a fracture of the ribs, the injured area is very sensitive to pressure. The two clinical pictures cannot always be reliably distinguished from each other on the basis of the physical examination alone.
Treatment
As a first aid measure, it is recommended to cool the injured area. To do this, for example, place ice cubes wrapped in a cloth or a cold compress on the bruised rib. This reduces the pain and counteracts swelling of the tissue.
The attending physician prescribes suitable painkillers such as tramadol or ibuprofen. The latter also has an anti-inflammatory effect.
Mucolytic drugs facilitate the painful expectoration of stuck secretions in the airways in the case of a rib contusion.
Even in the case of a mild rib contusion, it is important to avoid major stress in the chest area. For example, you should refrain from carrying heavy loads and protect your back. This includes squatting down with a straight back when picking something up from the floor.
Home remedies have their limits. If the symptoms persist for a long period of time, do not improve or even get worse, always consult a doctor to be on the safe side.
Causes and risk factors
This happens particularly often during sports, especially contact sports such as soccer, handball or ice hockey, and martial arts (such as judo, aikido, boxing, wrestling). However, a fall while cycling, skiing or climbing stairs will also possibly result in a bruised rib. The same is true if a motorist hits the steering wheel with his or her chest, for example, in an accident.
Examinations and diagnosis
- How did the injury occur?
- What complaints do you have?
- Where exactly do you feel pain?
This is followed by a physical examination. The doctor carefully palpates the ribs.
If a rib contusion is suspected, the doctor always x-rays the rib cage to determine whether the rib is bruised or broken. X-rays generally show bony injuries such as a fracture well.
