Isolated costal cartilage fractures: the radiographically overlooked injuries.
Isolated costal cartilage fractures are benign and rare. A 65-year-old man had a sustained chest pain after a fist punch in the past month. A 3-dimensional computed tomography revealed left 7th and 8th costal cartilage fractures with fracture dislocations. As he refused an open fracture reduction, he was advised to have a rest with subsequent follow-up. Ultrasound screening is recommended in patients with sustained posttraumatic chest pains in order to rule out possible costal cartilage fractures. The therapeutic regimen generally depends on the location and severity of the fracture.
1st Hospital of Putian, Teaching Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Putian, Fujian Province, China. shiminyuan@126.com.
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Yuan
D000368:Aged; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D050724:Fractures, Cartilage / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012272:Ribs / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography
costal cartilage fracture; diagnostic imaging; thoracic injuries