PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Yucel Akkas
AU  - Ozgul Katrançioglu
AU  - Sulhattin Arslan
AU  - Ekber Sahin
TI  - Spontaneous rib fractures
DP  - 2012 Sep 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - P2419
VI  - 40
IP  - Suppl 56
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/P2419.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/P2419.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2012 Sep 01; 40
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Other than trauma, rib fracture can occur in patients spontaneously due to a severe cough or sneeze. In this study, patients with spontaneous rib fracture were analyzed according to age, sex, underlying pathology, treatment and complications.MATERIALS AND METHODS: 12 patients who presented between February 2009 and February 2011 with spontaneous rib fracture were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were evaluated according to anamnesis, physical examination and chest X-rays.RESULTS: 7 patients (58.4%) were male. The age of the patients ranged from 34 to 77 years (mean ± SD, 55.91 ± 12.20). All patients had severe cough and chest pain. Multiple rib fractures were detected in five patients (41.7%). The fracture were detected most frequently between 4th and 9th ribs. 8 (66.66%) patients had COPD, 2 (16.66%) patients had bronchial asthma and 2(16.66%) patients had osteoporosis as well. The patients with COPD and bronchial asthma were treated with high dose steroids for over a year. Bone densitometry revealed high risk of bone fracture in all patients.CONCLUSION: Spontaneous rib fracture due to severe cough may occur in patients with osteoporosis or with COPD and bronchial asthma receiving long-term steroid therapy. If these patients have severe chest pain, chest radiography should be evaluated for bone lesions particularly.