Question

You are treating a patient who fell hard on her right side when she fell off a bike. Exposure of the patient's chest reveals a large bruise on the lateral aspect of the right side of the chest. When you palpate the area, the patient yells out in extreme pain and states that she cannot take a deep breath. What condition should you suspect?

1) Rib fractures
2) Open pneumothorax
3) Spontaneous pneumothorax
4) Cardiac tamponade

Answer 1

The patient with a chest bruise, extreme pain upon palpation, and difficulty breathing likely has rib fractures, a condition verified through symptoms and can be confirmed with a chest X-ray.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a patient presents with a large bruise on the lateral aspect of her chest, expresses extreme pain upon palpation, and has difficulty taking a deep breath, the condition to suspect is 1) Rib fractures. The trauma from the fall likely caused the bruising and can lead to fractures of the ribs. The pain during palpation and breathlessness are classic symptoms associated with rib fractures. The shortness of breath may also develop due to the pain affecting the patient's breathing mechanics. A chest X-ray would be a useful diagnostic tool in this case to confirm the presence of rib fractures.