A Lucky Open Rib Fracture After Falling from a Donkey

Abstract

Open bone fractures are frequently seen in fingers (45%) and in long bones such as tibia and fibula (11.2%). Open fractures of the thorax due to rib fracture rarely result in antagonism. Rib fracture treatment is often conservative, but fracture-related complications may require surgical intervention. We presented a case report of a child who had open rib fracture in the left hemithorax after falling from a donkey and who was followed up by the family for a long period of time falsely, considering that it was a piece of wood. There was a story of a 9 years old female patient falling from a donkey 20 days ago. After the trauma, a hard, creamy colored piece of rib extending out about 2 cm from the surface of the skin in the patient’s left hemithorax was thought to be a foreign body by the family. After the tetanus vaccination was performed, the necessary antibiotic treatment was started and the rib piece about 6 cm in length was removed under local anesthesia. Follow-ups were normal and no complications are encountered yet. As a result, chest wall should be intervened early to reduce or eliminate morbidity in compound rib fractures. Although initiation of treatment in the late period may reduce the chances of success of treatment, morbidity can be reduced by appropriate surgical intervention.