Chest Injury Treatment After Car Accident | Craft Accident Care Center

CHEST INJURIES AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT

Rib, Sternum, and Seatbelt Chest Trauma

Striking the steering wheel or dashboard, or even the pressure of a seatbelt, can cause severe chest injuries in an auto accident. If you are experiencing chest pain following a road collision, Craft Accident Care Center Arizona in Scottsdale has all the facilities you need. The center provides diagnostic imaging, a pharmacy, and expert treatment all in one convenient location. Walk in any time, or book a same-day appointment over the phone or online. Contact Craft Accident Care Center Arizona today for prompt treatment of chest injuries.

Some chest symptoms are an emergency. Severe difficulty breathing, chest pressure or tightness, coughing blood, blue-tinged lips or fingertips, or a rapidly worsening pain all need immediate emergency care. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department — do not wait for an appointment.

CHEST PAIN Q&A

What the impact does to your chest

How do auto accidents cause chest injuries?

The forces at work in an auto accident make chest injuries very likely. You may strike the steering wheel or dashboard, and the seatbelt itself can press hard enough across your chest to cause damage at the moment of impact.

You may also be thrown around inside the vehicle and strike the seats or other occupants.

What sort of chest injuries do auto accidents cause?

Fractured ribs are the most frequent chest injury, though the sternum and thoracic vertebrae can break as well. Strained or torn muscles and connective tissue are also common.

Symptoms can include:

Severe chest pain
Bruising
Breathing problems
Pain in your shoulders, arms, or rib cage
Pain when you breathe deeply, cough, or sneeze

These symptoms can have musculoskeletal causes, but they can also point to lung or heart injuries requiring emergency care.

How are chest injuries diagnosed?

Fractured ribs are the most frequent chest injury, though the sternum and thoracic vertebrae can break as well. Strained or torn muscles and connective tissue are also common.

Symptoms can include:

Severe chest pain
Bruising
Breathing problems
Pain in your shoulders, arms, or rib cage
Pain when you breathe deeply, cough, or sneeze

These symptoms can have musculoskeletal causes, but they can also point to lung or heart injuries requiring emergency care.

How are chest injuries treated?

Treatment follows the cause of your injury. Broken ribs generally heal without surgery unless you have flail chest or another particularly severe fracture. Bruising and soft tissue damage also tend to heal without invasive treatment.

Following the Craft Accident Care Center Arizona rehabilitation program matters a great deal. Rest gives healing room to work, but physical therapy and breathing exercises are essential too — together they rebuild chest strength and prevent pneumonia.