Miura Koji, Tada Rica
General Surgery, Sakaide City Hospital, Sakaide, JPN.
Emergency Medicine, Kagawa Prefectural Central Hospital, Takamatsu, JPN.
Cureus. 2025 Jun 11;17(6):e85818. doi: 10.7759/cureus.85818. eCollection 2025 Jun.
First rib fractures in adolescents are uncommon and typically result from high-impact trauma. However, they can also occur following low-energy mechanisms and may be easily overlooked in the absence of a clear traumatic event. We report the case of a 13-year-old boy with no prior medical history who presented with sudden-onset left-sided chest pain after pushing his bicycle while making a right turn. The physical examination revealed localized tenderness in the upper left chest, with no visible signs of trauma. A chest radiograph demonstrated a fracture of the left first rib. This case highlights the importance of considering first rib fractures in adolescents presenting with unexplained chest pain, even after seemingly benign activities. Prompt recognition and appropriate imaging can facilitate accurate diagnosis, avoid unnecessary testing, and alleviate anxiety for both patients and their families.
青少年第一肋骨骨折并不常见，通常由高能量创伤引起。然而，它们也可能在低能量机制后发生，并且在没有明确创伤事件的情况下可能很容易被忽视。我们报告了一例13岁男孩的病例，他既往无病史，在右转时推自行车后突然出现左侧胸痛。体格检查发现左上胸部有局部压痛，无明显创伤迹象。胸部X线片显示左侧第一肋骨骨折。该病例强调了在出现不明原因胸痛的青少年中考虑第一肋骨骨折的重要性，即使是在看似良性的活动之后。及时识别和适当的影像学检查有助于准确诊断，避免不必要的检查，并减轻患者及其家属的焦虑。
