How long to stay in bed with a rib fracture?

Written by Zhang Ying Peng
Orthopedics
Updated on November 24, 2024
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Rib fractures are very common clinically. After a rib fracture, it is necessary to rest in bed, immobilize, and reduce activity, otherwise excessive pulling of the ribs will cause pain. Generally, the bed rest period is about 10-14 days. Generally, after two weeks of treatment, the ribs will form fibrous connections and no longer cause severe pain. After two weeks, appropriate activity out of bed can be resumed. At the same time, oral antibiotics can be taken to prevent infection, as well as medications that promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis to enhance the absorption of the hematoma.

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Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
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What is good to eat for fractures?

If a fracture occurs, it is recommended to start with a light diet, consuming easily digestible foods such as leafy greens and porridge to facilitate the recovery of gastrointestinal function. Once the condition stabilizes, you can add foods rich in protein and calcium, such as beef, eggs, bean products, and milk, which are all good sources of protein and calcium. It is advisable not to consume foods that are too high in fat as they can lead to weight gain and also interfere with the absorption of calcium.

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Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
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How to exercise with a patellar fracture?

After a patellar fracture occurs, through immobilization or surgical treatment, it's possible to actively contract the quadriceps early on to strengthen muscle exercise and avoid muscle atrophy. Ankle pump exercises can also be performed, which are beneficial for the contraction of the calf muscles in the lower limbs, can help prevent thrombosis, and aid in the recovery of function. After the removal of external fixation or once the wound has healed, one can actively flex the knee joint. For example, by sitting at the edge of the bed with the knee naturally hanging, the knee joint can be flexed to 90 degrees. If there is difficulty in bending, one can push the healthy limb backward against the injured limb to help bend the knee joint. For exercises exceeding 90 degrees, one can lie flat on the bed, then flex the hip joint while holding the thigh of the injured limb with both hands, and allow the knee joint to naturally bend through gravity. This exercise can help restore the flexion and extension functions of the knee joint.

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Written by Luo Peng
Thoracic Surgery
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How painful is a rib fracture?

How painful is a rib fracture? Personally, I have never experienced a fracture, but I have treated many patients with rib fractures. I can say that most rib fractures are very painful, especially those where the fracture site stimulates the nerve, causing severe pain, even unbearable enough to make one cry out. Generally speaking, with rib fractures, most people are in so much pain that they dare not cough or even take deep breaths. Some patients can barely get up once lying down, as any movement during the process can cause intense pain. There are also cases where patients have difficulty lying back down after getting up, experiencing significant pain in the process. Essentially, any activity that involves moving the fractured area is avoided due to the pain, which highlights how painful rib fractures can be.

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Written by Cheng Bin
Orthopedics
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Symptoms of fractures

Patients with fractures typically exhibit marked pain symptoms locally, accompanied by local swelling and limited movement. Some patients may also present with fever as a clinical symptom. There might be clear signs of bone crepitus and a sensation of bone rubbing on palpation. In severe cases, deformities or abnormal movement may occur, which are common clinical symptoms of fractures. For the diagnosis of fractures, it is necessary to actively take a regular X-ray. For some occult fractures, it is essential to conduct a CT scan and three-dimensional reconstructive CT to confirm the diagnosis.

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Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
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How to care for a patellar fracture

A patellar fracture occurs, the first step is to immobilize the patellofemoral joint. During treatment, the primary goal is to prevent the formation of lower limb thrombosis. Therefore, early on, patients can be actively guided to contract the quadriceps and calf triceps muscles, while also performing dorsiflexion and flexion exercises of the ankle joint to avoid ankle stiffness. As the condition stabilizes, a cushion can be placed under the knee joint to allow for active flexion of the knee. If the fracture has stabilized, the patient can sit at the edge of the bed and let the knee naturally flex downward. If there is difficulty, the healthy limb can be used to help push and squeeze the injured limb to achieve a flexion close to ninety degrees. Patients can also lie in bed, hug their thighs with both hands, and flex the knee joint beyond ninety degrees to enhance this type of knee exercise.