Diagnosis

• A medical doctor can diagnose whether a rib is fractured based on a physical exam followed up by an X-ray of your chest.
  
  

Swelling

• A fractured rib may cause symptoms such as swelling or bruising of the chest, which may occur within minutes after an injury or accident.
  
  

Difficulty Breathing

• Difficulty breathing, especially after a fall or injury in the chest area is a symptom of a fractured rib.
  
  

Painful Breathing

• A fractured rib may cause pain when breathing, especially when you cough or take a deep breath.
  
  

Tenderness

• Tenderness when touching your ribs is a symptom of a broken or fractured rib that may worsen with movement or activity.
  
  

Hemothorax

• A fractured rib may injure the muscles of the chest, causing internal bleeding between the lungs and cavity of the chest (hemothorax), which is a medical emergency.
  
  

Pneumothorax

• Pneumothorax is a life threatening condition that may be caused by a fractured rib that punctures a lung and causes a build up of air in your chest cavity.