A teenage male has fallen onto a railing while skateboarding.He complains of right-sided chest pain and moderate dyspnea.Exposure of the chest reveals a section of his ribs that is moving opposite of the rest of the ribs.You should:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The patient most likely has a flail chest, where a section of the chest wall moves opposite the rest of the chest due to multiple rib fractures. A bulky dressing can be applied to the area to provide support and reduce movement. The other choices are not appropriate in this situation. Rolling the patient over onto his right side could further exacerbate his injuries. Positive pressure ventilation is not necessary unless the patient's respiratory effort becomes inadequate. An occlusive dressing is not needed in this scenario.

A Teenage Male Has Fallen onto a Railing While Skateboarding