Jason Stephens | October 29, 2024 | Personal Injury
Life is full of surprises. Sometimes, you get a call offering your dream job, or you discover that you’re about to add a new bundle of joy to the family. Then, there are times when an unexpected accident ruins your day and sends you to the hospital.
Unfortunately, a tragic turn of events, such as a vehicle collision or slip and fall incident, could leave you with a significant injury like a broken bone. If you’re particularly unlucky, you might be among the roughly 4 to 8% of people who end up with a fractured sternum related to blunt abdominal trauma.
How can you tell if your sternum is fractured? What symptoms characterize this rare injury, and what should you do if it happens to you?
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of a Fractured Sternum?
The sternum, also known as the breastbone, is a flat, t-shaped bone that connects the front of the rib cage from top to bottom. After car accidents, the most common causes of sternum fractures include sports injuries, falls, and physical assault. It’s also common in instances where CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) is administered.
What happens when you fracture your sternum? The most likely symptom is chest pain at the site of the fracture. The level of pain may depend on factors like the severity of the break and your personal level of pain tolerance. However, pain will likely intensify when you cough, sneeze, or take a deep breath.
Bruising and swelling are common side effects of a fractured sternum, and about 20% of patients with this injury also suffer from shortness of breath. If you notice any of these symptoms following an accident, you should seek medical attention. This injury is commonly diagnosed through imaging, such as an X-ray, CT scan, or ultrasound.
Treatment Options For a Fractured Sternum
Unlike with a broken arm or leg, a cast won’t do much to immobilize the area and speed healing. Provided there aren’t more serious injuries related to your fractured sternum, such as a punctured lung or heart damage, your treatment will likely involve little more than rest and avoiding activities like lifting, pushing, or pulling for several weeks.
Many sternal fractures heal on their own within about 8 to 12 weeks, although you’re likely to feel pain or discomfort during the recovery process. Every time you breathe, your lungs expand, along with your rib cage and sternum.
Taking a deep breath, laughing, or coughing could cause acute pain symptoms, which may lead you to avoid these activities. Unfortunately, this could result in secondary conditions, including fluid buildup in the lungs and potentially infection.
In some cases, a severe fracture could leave a portion or portions of your sternum unstable, displaced, or otherwise out of alignment with the rest of the bone. To ensure proper healing, your doctor may recommend surgery to correct the situation.
Getting Back To Normal After Fracturing Your Sternum
Recovering after an accident starts with seeking medical diagnosis and treatment. However, it may take more to help you return to your life and be made whole again.
If another person or entity is to blame for an accident that leaves you with a broken sternum and weeks of painful recovery ahead, you may need compensation to cover medical bills and lost wages. This starts with properly documenting the accident and resulting costs.
From there, you should find an experienced and reliable personal injury attorney who has a history of success with cases like yours. The right lawyer will guide you through the process of seeking compensation by helping you develop a strategy for negotiations and, if necessary, presenting your case in court.
Contact Our Personal Injury Law Firm
If you’ve been injured in an accident in Fort Worth or Weatherford and need legal help, contact our Fort Worth and Weatherford personal injury lawyers at Stephens Law Personal Injury | Wrongful Death | Truck Accidents to schedule a free consultation.
Stephens Law Personal Injury | Wrongful Death | Truck Accidents
1300 S University Dr # 406
Fort Worth, TX 76107
(817) 420-7000
Stephens Law Personal Injury | Wrongful Death | Truck Accidents – Weatherford Office
109 York Ave Suite #201
Weatherford, TX 76086
(817) 409-7000