The chest wall runs from the shoulders to the diaphragm or bottom of the ribs. It includes the front and back of the rib cage. It also includes the breastbone, shoulders, and collarbones. A blunt trauma, such as during a car accident or fall, can injure the chest wall.
Injury to the chest wall may result in bruising and swelling. This injury is called a chest wall bruise (contusion). It may also result in broken ribs and injured muscles. These cause pain, often during breathing. If one or more ribs are broken in several areas, the chest wall may become unstable and painful. This may cause serious breathing trouble.
In the emergency room or urgent care center, any broken bones or other injuries will be assessed. Your child might be given medicine for pain. Broken ribs usually heal without further treatment. A broken shoulder or collarbone may be taped or supported with a sling.
Home care
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Your child’s doctor may prescribe medicines for pain or swelling. Follow the doctor’s instructions for giving these medicines to your child. Don't use additional medicines or other pain medicines without first talking with the doctor.
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Allow your child to rest as needed. Give pain medicine before an activity or sleeping at night.
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Change a sling, tape, or dressings as advised by the doctor.
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Position your child so that they are as comfortable as possible.
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Follow the doctor’s instructions for putting ice or heat on the injury.
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Have your child hold a pillow against the chest to ease pain when breathing and coughing.
Follow-up care
Follow up with your child’s doctor as advised.
Special notes to parents
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A child’s chest wall is very flexible. During an injury, more force may be placed on the internal organs, such as the lungs and heart, than on the chest wall bones. As a result, a child’s chest wall may look fine even if there are serious internal injuries. So always get your child medical care for a serious blow to the chest wall.
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After being hurt in a car accident or by a fall, your child may have fears and nightmares about the injury. This can last for several months or many years. If the fear affects your child’s ability to function, talk to their doctor. Therapy or other help may be needed.
When to get medical advice
Contact your child's doctor if your child has:
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Pain that continues or gets worse and is not relieved by pain medicine.
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Swelling or bruising that doesn’t go away or gets worse.
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Signs of infection, such as increased redness or swelling, pain that gets worse, or bad-smelling fluid leaking from a wound.
Call 911
Call
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Trouble breathing, shortness of breath, or fast breathing.
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Fainting.
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