Most rib fractures heal on their own with analgesia and breathing exercises. But multiple, unstable (flail chest) or overlapping fractures that impair breathing need surgical fixation with plates to reduce pain, speed recovery and avoid lung complications. An important warning: chest binders do more harm than good — their pressure displaces the broken bones so they overlap instead of meeting, hindering proper healing.
Common symptoms
- Sharp pain on breathing or coughing after an injury or fall — or after forceful back 'cracking'
- Difficulty taking a deep breath
- Abnormal movement of part of the chest wall
- A lump or swelling on the ribs
- A chest deformity (sunken or protruding) in teenagers and young adults
When is surgery an option?
Ribs are fixed surgically when there are three or more unstable fractures, severely overlapping fractures, or when pain and breathing cannot be controlled conservatively. Rib tumours are resected with chest wall reconstruction, and congenital chest deformities are corrected when they affect breathing, the heart or the patient's wellbeing.
Treatment options
- Fracture assessment with 3D CT
- Rib fixation with titanium plates through small incisions
- Resection of rib and chest wall tumours with chest wall reconstruction
- Correction of pectus excavatum and pectus carinatum
- Management of pneumothorax and haemothorax associated with injuries
Frequently asked questions
Does a chest binder help rib fractures heal?
No — it makes things worse: the pressure displaces the broken bones so they overlap, and it limits lung expansion, raising the risk of pneumonia.
Book your appointment in Jeddah
Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital – Jeddah (Main Branch) · Monday & Thursday, 5:00 – 8:00 PM