Lung contusion – displaced rib fractures

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Lung contusion – displaced rib fractures

  • Lung contusion (bleeding into the airways of the lungs) has identical appearances to any other cause of consolidation
  • It is associated with a history of direct trauma to the chest wall
  • This image shows several displaced rib fractures

Lung contusion – undisplaced rib fractures

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Lung contusion – undisplaced rib fractures

  • Rib fractures are often invisible or very difficult to see on a chest X-ray
  • The consolidation seen in the right lower zone is due to lung contusion
  • Note: Clinical suspicion of rib fractures is not generally considered an indication for a chest X-ray unless there is also suspicion of complications such as a pneumothorax

Page author: Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust UK (Read bio)

Last reviewed: October 2019