Slipping Rib Syndrome: Solving the Mystery of the Shooting Pain

Abstract

Slipping rib syndrome is an often unrecognized and underdiagnosed condition caused by the increased mobility of the anterior ends of the costal cartilages of the false ribs. Patients usually present with severe intermittent abdominal pain that is exacerbated by various physical movements. Diagnosis of slipping rib syndrome is mainly clinical and can be confirmed by a physical examination technique termed the “Hooking Maneuver.” Treatment includes conservative therapy, intercostal nerve block and surgical operation. Hence, the management and care plan of each patient must be individualized as per the presenting symptoms and medical history. Early recognition and prompt intervention necessitate that physicians be more aware of the symptomatology and prognosis of this condition. This study presents a rare case of a patient with slipping rib syndrome and offers medical insight to the clinical diagnosis and therapeutic modalities of this condition, in light of the current existing literature.