Traumatic Rib Fracture

11th March 2007 at 19:47 GMT by Dr.C.A.Jenner MB BS, FRCA. Permalink.

Case report on a patient with neuropathic pain following a Traumatic Rib Fracture

Traumatic Rib Fracture

I saw a lady in the Pain Clinic who had pain emanating from an old fracture of the right rib at the level of T5/T6. She had significant pain on the right side of her chest which occurred when she fractured the rib after the barrier doors of a train caught her.

Examination findings

On examination she was particularly tender over the old fracture of the rib right T5/6 area. She also had an increase in sensation to light touch (allodynia) and to pin prick sensation (hyperalgesia).

Diagnosis of intercostal neuralgia

Initially, this lady was given a diagnosis of intercostal neuralgia. She underwent a total 4 of intercostal nerve blocks, using long acting anaesthetic and the anti-inflammatory Depo-Medrone. She made a good recovery from this, stopped taking other analgesic medication and was discharged from the clinic.