A common injury involving closed damage from a strong blow to the chest area or a fall onto a sharp object.
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A common injury involving closed damage from a strong blow to the chest area or a fall onto a sharp object.
A chest contusion is a closed injury to the soft tissues of the chest after a blow or fall: the skin is intact and the bones are not broken, but the muscles, blood vessels, and tissues between the ribs hurt. The pain gets worse with inhaling, coughing, and turning the torso. Sometimes a lung or heart injury hides behind a "simple bruise," so it is important to assess the condition in time.
In brief
At CSM Clinic in Kyiv, appointments are conducted by an orthopedic trauma specialist: they examine you, refer you for tests if needed, and advise on how to recover.
A chest contusion is a common injury involving closed damage from a strong blow to the chest area or a fall onto a sharp object. A strong blow may be combined with injuries to the lungs or heart. The skin and bone structures remain intact, but the chest is compressed very strongly.
Need help after an injury? Book a consultation with a trauma specialist or rehabilitation after injury at CSM Clinic in Kyiv.
Symptoms appear immediately after the blow, and the injured person's condition can be assessed by how pronounced they are:
The cause of the injury is always a blow, which can occur in a traffic accident, during active sports, as a result of a fall, or in a domestic fight.
The injured person should be given rest, a cold compress should be applied, and an X-ray examination should be done as soon as possible to make sure there is no damage to blood vessels or internal organs.
Treatment consists of rest, taking painkillers, and wearing a tight bandage. These measures are determined by the doctor. Sometimes surgery is needed to remove collections of stagnant blood or repair damaged vessels.
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Usually the acute pain subsides within a few days, while aching discomfort during deep breaths or sudden movements can last up to several weeks. It all depends on the force of the blow. If the pain does not ease or gets worse, a repeat examination by a doctor is needed.
With a contusion the bones are intact, while with a fracture there is a crack or break. The sensations are similar, so they cannot be told apart by pain alone; an X-ray or another test is needed. Warning signs include sharp pain at a specific point, a crunching sensation under the fingers, and pain that prevents you from taking a deep breath.
On the left, next to the ribs, are the heart, the left lung, and the spleen, so doctors assess such a blow more carefully. If after the injury there is heart pain, an irregular heartbeat, weakness, or dizziness, call an ambulance (103). Even without these signs, it is better to see a trauma specialist.
Yes, there may be no bruise, especially in the first hours. It appears when blood seeps into the soft tissues, and this does not always happen. So the absence of a bruise does not prove that the injury is mild: pay attention to pain, breathing, and how you feel.
Rest, sit in a semi-reclining position, apply a cold pack through a cloth, and do not bandage the chest tightly, so as not to restrict breathing. If breathing is very difficult, or shortness of breath or blood in the sputum appears, call 103. In other cases, see a trauma specialist within the same few days.
In ICD-10, chest contusion belongs to section S20 (superficial injuries of the thorax), and a contusion is coded S20.2. The code is needed for medical documents, while the diagnosis is made by the doctor after an examination.