Rib Fracture
A rib fracture is a break in one of the ribs, often after trauma, coughing fits, or reduced bone strength.
When to get help quickly: Urgent hospital review is important if there is shortness of breath, worsening chest pain, coughing blood, dizziness, or the injury followed major trauma.
Common symptoms
Symptoms usually include chest pain that is worse when breathing deeply, coughing, laughing, or moving, along with tenderness and sometimes bruising over the rib area.
When imaging helps
Imaging helps when doctors need to confirm the injury, count multiple fractures, or check for complications such as lung injury, collapsed lung, or internal bruising.
What radiology does
Chest X-ray or CT can help identify the fracture and check for associated issues such as pneumothorax or lung bruising.
What usually happens next
Treatment usually focuses on pain control, breathing support, and watching for complications.
Seen this on your report?
Your doctor or the radiologist who wrote it can tell you what it means for you.
Related scan guides
- Rib X-RayA rib X-ray is a quick scan that uses a small amount of radiation to show the rib bones and nearby chest wall. Doctors may request it after chest injury, pain while breathing, suspected rib fracture, or a fall.
- Chest X-RayA chest X-ray is a quick scan that uses a small amount of radiation to take pictures of your lungs, heart, ribs, and chest bones. Doctors commonly request it for cough, chest pain, breathing difficulty, infections, and chest injuries.
- CT ChestA CT Chest scan is an imaging test that uses X-rays and computer processing to produce detailed cross-sectional images of the lungs, heart, airways, blood vessels, and chest wall.