Rib fractures are associated with a direct, blunt force trauma to the thorax. It is estimated that 10% of all patients who were admitted to the hospital after blunt chest trauma have at least one rib fracture. In the prehospital setting, trauma victims with rib fractures can have various presentations, from unconscious to awake and in obvious distress.

Depending on the mechanism of injury, many of these patients will harbor serious life-threatening injuries that are not obvious initially to the prehospital clinician.

An organized and systematic approach to the trauma patient with rib fractures as well as timely lifesaving interventions will ensure their better prognosis.

The prehospital evaluation of patients with rib fractures, like any trauma patient, emphasizes scene safety, airway, breathing, and circulation.

Paramedics should have a high index of suspicion for underlying devastating injuries.

Manual stabilization of a flail segment, as well as IV analgesia, are important prehospital interventions.

Rapid stabilization and transfer to a trauma center contribute to better outcomes in patients with rib fractures.

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