How long does it take to weld the sternum

The rib cage is made up of the vertebrae, the ribs and the sternum, a flat and symmetrical bone with a length approximately 15 centimeters long, which has three important parts the manubrium, the body and the xiphoid appendix, located specifically in the center of the thoracic region that articulates directly with the clavicles and true and false ribs.

The sternum is responsible for stabilizing the chest and, in addition, this bone also protects the vital organs that are inside it, mainly lungs and heart.

Any strong impact trauma directly to the chest region can somehow generate the sternal fracture , the important thing is to be able to determine in time that this is a possibility that generates characteristic signs and symptoms. These are the main symptoms of a sternum fracture :

• There may be difficulty and pain in the chest when breathing , which is intensified by making efforts such as coughing, sitting, bending over, sneezing, or laughing.
• Sudden chest pain after the traumatic event to the area.
• Cracking noise in the chest.
• Muscle spasms in the thoracic area.
• Bruising, increased sensitivity, and sometimes there is swelling in the chest.
• Due to the intensity of the impact, it can be seen with the naked eye that there is some bone deformity in the chest, which happens when the fracture is displaced, that is, the bone has broken and one or more parts of the fracture have moved out of place. .

The fracture in the sternum has risk factors and has a high incidence in:

• Women more than men.
• It is common in rugby players, wrestling, hockey, martial arts, boxing, and weightlifting.
• In adults over 50, regardless of sex.
• Finally, working at high altitudes is an important risk factor due to the risk of falls.

All these can be alarm signals to think that there is a sternum fracture, having previously a traumatic event that triggers it, such as a fall, a direct blunt trauma or car accidents, and although it sounds paradoxical, the use of a seat belt brings with it an increase in the frequency of sternum fractures that represent 10% of admissions to emergency units.

The time it takes to weld a sternum fracture will depend on the severity of the fracture, at this point it is important to mention that there are two types of sternum fracture, one without displacement where the bone fragments remain in their anatomical position and the second, called a displacement fracture, where, as a result of muscle and bone tension, there may be damage to internal tissues and organs.

Medically it is explained to the patient that this type of fracture needs approximately between 10 and 24 weeks of rest in the case of a non-displaced sternum fracture, avoiding in any way things that could make it worse and, therefore, following these tips:

• Do not put pressure on the area.
• It is also recommended not to practice lifting heavy objects.
• Do not exert any type of action, or work, until the fractured bone is completely welded.

Finally, in case the sternum bill is displaced and surgical intervention is required to fix the bone portions that are fractured, the time to fully weld the sternum can be extended up to up to 30 weeks of recovery .

From the beginning, when a sternum fracture is diagnosed by a doctor, after having carried out the corresponding assessment and the corresponding examinations, such as chest X-rays, the following will be indicated:

• Apply cold to the region , doing it for 20 minutes and every 2 hours to avoid inflammatory processes and the appearance of bruises.
• In addition to this, it is recommended to slightly immobilize the thoracic area to avoid any complication in relation to the internal thoracic organs that are protected by the external, the correct method to do it is by means of the thoracic bandage, in addition to these it is important to have rest in relation to activities that require strong movements in the chest.

If the recovery time, that is, for the sternum fracture to completely weld, is not met to the letter, there are certain complications of the sternum fracture that can be associated with this issue, such as:

• Injury to vital organs such as the heart and lung, in addition to the damage that can occur in the blood vessels, abdominal organs and vertebrae.
• The aortic rupture or a perforated lung is one of the most severe complications that exists when not fulfilling the recovery time so that a sternum fracture heals properly.
• It can also be associated with the possible dangers that exist when having a fracture of the sternum to present cardiac and pulmonary contusion , that is, bruise in the heart and lungs, as well as the presence of hemothorax even fractured ribs .
• The incorrect healing of the sternal fracture can cause bone deformity , compress some blood vessels and generate infectious processes such as osteomyelitis.

Every fracture must be evaluated, diagnosed and treated by a specialist once there is a traumatic event, do not try to self-medicate and always take into account that rest is essential for a fracture of this bone as important as the sternum to heal properly .

This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.

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