The recovery time for a sternum fracture in a child can vary depending on the severity of the fracture. In most cases, sternal fractures heal on their own and don’t need surgery. A break in your sternum is also known as a sternum fracture or sternal fracture. It helps form the front part of the rib cage that protects the heart, lungs, along with other crucial blood vessels. All the ribs and collarbone connect to the sternum by cartilage. Our experience in treating children with slipping rib syndrome means we know what treatments are most effective for the youngest patients.The sternum or the breastbone is the flat bone right in the middle of your chest. So if your child is experiencing symptoms, it’s important to visit a children’s hospital. Slipping rib syndrome is more common in adults, and it’s treated differently in adults and children. Why choose us for treatment of slipping rib syndrome? In severe cases where the pain continues, your child’s doctor may recommend surgery to remove the cartilage and lower ribs. They may be able to perform a localized nerve block to the area causing pain. Occasionally, we may recommend evaluation by one of our acute pain service teams of pediatric anesthesiologists. In addition to pain medication, we may also ask your child to apply heat or ice or wear a chest binder to stabilize the ribs.
Activities such as throwing a ball or swimming can also cause slipping rib pain.
If the injury is a recurring one, we may recommend that your child stops playing contact sports or participating in activities that can injure the chest or abdomen. If your child has other conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney disease, liver disease, or has had stomach ulcers or internal bleeding in the past, do not give pain medication without consulting a doctor. With rest and pain management, the pain from slipping rib syndrome usually goes away in a few weeks. If the pain is mild, your child’s doctor may recommend over-the-counter remedies like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn) for pain relief. Treatment for slipping rib syndrome usually focuses on relieving the pain. When it occurs in children, it is usually associated with a traumatic chest injury. Slipping rib syndrome is more common in adults. Rapid twisting, pushing or lifting motions can also cause an injury that leads to slipping rib syndrome. Many of these injuries are related to contact sports such as football, ice hockey, wrestling or rugby. Slipping rib syndrome can occur after an injury to the chest. Weakness in the ligaments can allow the ribs to move more than usual, causing pain. Instead, fibrous tissue called ligaments connect these ribs to each other to help keep them stable. These ribs are not connected to the sternum (chest bone) like the other ribs are. This syndrome usually occurs between the 8th, 9th and 10th ribs (also known as false ribs), at the lower part of the rib cage. Slipping rib syndrome may also be known by several other names, such as:
Slipping rib syndrome happens when the lower ribs are able to move more than usual, causing pain in the lower chest or upper abdomen.