After a rib fracture, if a pneumothorax occurs, it is a very serious complication. There are three types of pneumothorax: closed pneumothorax, open pneumothorax, and tension pneumothorax. The simplest is the closed pneumothorax. If the area of lung compression in a closed pneumothorax is less than 30%, there is a hope for self-healing, and generally no special treatment is needed; if the lung compression exceeds 30%, it might be necessary to place a closed thoracic drainage tube to drain the air accumulating in the chest cavity, which may need to stay in the chest cavity for about a week. This is the treatment for a closed pneumothorax. If it is an open pneumothorax, it means there is an open wound on the chest. The treatment principle is to convert the open pneumothorax to a closed pneumothorax, which means sealing the wound, turning it into a closed pneumothorax, and then taking x-rays to assess the degree of lung compression. If the compression is significant, closed thoracic drainage is still necessary; if the compression is less severe, observation can continue. For a tension pneumothorax, it is the most severe type of pneumothorax and must be taken very seriously. Emergency placement of a closed thoracic drainage is recommended and must be handled promptly, as it could pose a life-threatening risk. In summary, once a pneumothorax occurs following rib fractures, it must be taken seriously. It is necessary to go to the hospital's thoracic surgery or orthopedic department for formal and timely treatment to prevent potentially severe consequences.