User:Mr. Ibrahem/Flail chest

Flail chest is when a segment of the rib cage becomes detached from the rest of the chest wall, due to trauma. Symptoms may include chest pain and trouble beathing. Complications may include pulmonary contusion (bruise of lung tissue), and pneumothorax.

The cause is typically significant blunt chest wall trauma, such as may occur during a motor vehicle collision. Risk factors include old age and osteogenesis imperfecta. The underlying mechanism involves at least three adjacent broken ribs in at least two places, such that part of the chest wall moves independently. This results in the flail segment moving in the opposite direction as the rest of the chest wall. Diagnosis is based on symptoms, which may be supported by medical imaging.

Initial management may include oxygen therapy, non-invasive ventilation, or mechanical ventilation. Pain management including nerve blocks may be required. Surgery, to fix the fractures, appears to result in better outcomes. Some people following recovery have chronic pain or remain disabled.

A flail chest occurs in about 7% of major chest trauma. Males are more commonly affected than females. The risk of death is about 15%; though is often due to associated injuries. The condition was first clearly described in 1955.