Open AccessBilateral first rib fractures: A case report
Author(s) -
Dilip Amonkar,
Mervyn Correia,
Amey pednekar,
Osborne Peter Vaz
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
medical journal of dr. d y patil university/medical journal of dr. d.y. patil university
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2278-7119
pISSN - 0975-2870
DOI - 10.4103/0975-2870.140493
Subject(s) - medicine , brachial plexus , surgery , rib cage , emergency department , thoracic outlet syndrome , major trauma , great vessels , presentation (obstetrics) , anatomy , psychiatry
From the time first rib fractures were first described in 1869, they have been a source of anxiety to attendant trauma surgeons working in the accident and emergency department of major hospitals. First rib fractures are associated with major thoracic trauma and may involve injury to subclavian vessels, brachial plexus, and mediastinal structures. But these complications are more often seen following unilateral first rib fractures. In contrast, bilateral first rib fractures may follow insignificant trauma, suggesting a different mechanism involved. Serious vascular injuries and brachial plexus injuries are rare and angiograms for evaluation of these patients aren′t routinely warranted. The case that we report illustrates this very point