Symptoms and treatment of sternum fracture

Fracture is a very painful thing. Although sternum fracture is very rare, its occurrence cannot be ruled out. Therefore, it is necessary to understand some symptoms and causes of sternum fracture.

Causes of sternum fracture

Sternum fractures are usually caused by direct and violent impacts to the sternum, such as being hit by a headbutt, a horse kick, or a collision with the steering wheel in a car accident. They can also be caused by firearms or sharp weapons, especially when the driver's front chest wall hits the steering wheel during an emergency deceleration.

A preliminary diagnosis can be made based on the local pain and tenderness after the chest area is hit. If the fracture is displaced, local deformation may be seen; when several ribs or costal cartilage fractures are combined, abnormal breathing movements may occur, and there may be respiratory and circulatory dysfunction. Oblique and lateral X-rays can clearly diagnose sternal fractures.

How to Treat a Sternum Fracture

1. Closed-loop manual reset

The patient lies on his back, hyperextends the sternum, and raises his arms above his head. After local anesthesia with procaine, apply pressure to the lower fractured section of the sternum to restore it. This method is suitable for transverse and displaced sternal fractures.

2. Surgical fixation

It is used for patients with obvious fracture displacement, difficult manual reduction or sternal fracture accompanied by flail chest. The operation can be performed under local or general anesthesia. A midline incision is made at the fracture site. The fracture ends are pried up with a periosteal peeler or bone holder to align the upper and lower ends. Then holes are drilled in the upper and lower fracture segments and fixed with stainless steel wires.