Sternal fracture
Sternal Fracture
A Sternal Fracture (pronounced: stur-nal frak-chur) is a fracture or break in the sternum, the long, flat bone in the middle of the chest that connects to the rib cage and helps protect the heart, lungs, and major blood vessels.
Etymology
The term "Sternal Fracture" is derived from the Latin word "sternum," meaning chest, and the Latin word "fractura," meaning a break.
Causes
Sternal fractures are most commonly caused by direct impact to the chest, often from motor vehicle accidents, falls, or sports injuries. They can also occur as a result of severe coughing or from CPR.
Symptoms
Symptoms of a sternal fracture can include severe pain in the chest, especially when breathing deeply or coughing, swelling or bruising over the sternum, and difficulty breathing.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of a sternal fracture typically involves a physical examination and imaging tests, such as an X-ray or CT scan.
Treatment
Treatment for a sternal fracture usually involves pain management, rest, and avoiding activities that could further injure the chest. In severe cases, surgery may be required to repair the fracture.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Sternal fracture
- Wikipedia's article - Sternal fracture
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski