Abstract
Cough-induced rib fracture is a very rare condition, with a few cases described in the medical literature. This case report describes the case of a 77-year-old male patient with a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who presented with left eighth and ninth rib fractures after severe cough secondary to upper respiratory tract infection. The patient had a good clinical outcome, followed by conservative management. Conservative treatment is the first-choice approach in cases of daily activities limiting symptoms or complications. Cough-induced rib fracture should be remembered as a possible diagnosis, as diagnostic delays increase the risk of complications.
Highlights
Cough is a physiological defense mechanism that protects the respiratory tract by clearing bronchial secretions and from foreign bodies
This case report describes the case of a 77-year-old male patient with a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who presented with left eighth and ninth rib fractures after severe cough secondary to upper respiratory tract infection
Cough-induced rib fracture should be remembered as a possible diagnosis, as diagnostic delays increase the risk of complications
Summary
Cough is a physiological defense mechanism that protects the respiratory tract by clearing bronchial secretions and from foreign bodies. This paper aims to report a case of a 77-year-old male presenting with left eighth and ninth rib fractures due to intense cough. The patient was obese and had a history of arterial hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) The chest Xray posteroanterior view showed an oval well-defined hypodensity in the left lower zone (Figure 1). Due to the physical examination and X-ray findings, a thorax CT scan was performed and it revealed left eighth and ninth rib fractures, minimal pleural effusion on left hemithorax, ground-glass opacities, and atelectasis opacities in the lower left lobe (Figure 2). Our thoracic surgical team adopted conservative treatment and the patient was discharged after pain control and supportive measures
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