In a patient with flail chest, paradoxical movement occurs when the flail section

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Paradoxical movement in a flail chest occurs because the segment of the rib cage that is detached moves in the opposite direction to the rest of the chest wall during the respiratory cycle: it moves inward during inspiration when the rest of the chest expands, and outward during exhalation when the chest contracts. This is due to the loss of structural integrity and the negative pressure inside the thorax during inspiration.

In a Patient with Flail Chest, Paradoxical Movement Occurs When