When to Seek Medical Care

A doctor should be called after any symptoms of chest pain are experienced, because of the possibility of other equally or more serious causes of chest pain.

• After blunt trauma to the chest, such as a fall on the ribs, a doctor should be seen if you have any shortness of breath or pain associated with breathing.

• If you cough up blood (called hemoptysis) after chest trauma or rib injury, this can be a sign of a more serious condition and should be treated by a medical professional.

• Penetrating trauma to the chest can fracture ribs or directly cause a collapsed lung. The penetrating trauma may be caused by any of the following:
  
  
  • Stab wound from a sharp object
    
    
  • Gunshot wound
    
    
  • Blunt trauma with a fist or an object, such as a baseball or bat that breaks a rib and punctures into the lung space.
  
  
• Any collapsed lung can rapidly deteriorate into the immediately life-threatening tension pneumothorax.

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