A rib fracture describes one or more broken ribs. If any related symptoms occur, it is recommended to visit a doctor for proper treatment. The treatment may only include medications to control the pain. But for some severe cases, surgery may be necessary.
A rib fracture describes one or more broken ribs. It can be caused by a variety of accidents or by an illness. Besides, the patterns of rib fractures include single, multiple and comminuted fracture. Rib fractures are common and they mostly have an unproblematic progression. But in some cases the broken rib can lead to damage of the lungs or the heart that requires intensive care.
A rib fracture is one of the most common chest injuries. The causes of a rib fracture are various. For example, car accidents, falls or being attacked by a fist or weapon can result in rib fractures due to the trauma happening to the chest. Besides, illnesses such as osteoporosis, hyperparathyroidism or bone metastases can weaken the bone structure and therefore increase the risks of getting rib fractures. Such weakened ribs can even break due to coughing. Rib fractures can be classified as single, multiple or comminuted fracture. People with a rib fracture may feel pain around the chest; furthermore, the pain typically worsens when people take a deep breath, touch the affected area or move their body. Besides, crepitation of the rib can sometimes be triggered by movements or pressure. In some cases the broken rib pierces into the chest and may lead to a hemato- or pneumothorax, or even damage the lungs or the heart.
The treatment of a rib fracture includes mainly medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, painkillers, and narcotics to relieve the symptoms. Meanwhile, the doctor may also fixate the affected area to prevent dislocation of the ribs. An uncomplicated rib fracture takes 2-3 weeks to heal. If the rib fracture is severe or brings complications, then surgery will become necessary.
Several years of work in academia, medical practice and finally commercialization make it possible to provide an end-to-end process to help users to “find the appropriate medical help based on their present symptoms”. Below you will find a short explanation, showing you which part of the platform will help you best in finding the appropriate medical support.
Proceed as follows to enter your current symptoms.
Click on the appropriate body part on the picture. Select one/multiple symptoms corresponding to your complaint.
You can also add symptoms by typing your medical complaint in the search box and selecting the best matching suggestion.
Note: Your information will be kept anonymously.
Once you have selected all applicable symptoms, click the “analyze disease pattern”-button.
Accordingly, you will get a list of possible diseases and matching doctor categories who can further help you.
You can inform yourself about the possible diseases by reading the related information. But you can also return to the previous step and add more symptoms or delete already added ones to further narrow down your disease pattern.
Click on the desired doctor category to find a doctor who can help you.
If you are logged in with your profile, you will be displayed the appropriate doctors in your area. Otherwise you can enter an address in the “address” field and you will be displayed a doctor’s list around that specified address.
You will receive further information about the displayed doctors when you press on “details”.
Online bookable doctors in your area will be indicated with the notation “Book appointment” or “Book externally”, additionally they will be displayed on top of the list for your convenience.
Click on “Book appointment” to start the online appointment booking process with the desired doctor.
Please select an available appointment. “Green“ appointments are booked directly. “Red“ appointments need to be confirmed by the doctor.
Enter your general personal and health information.
Enter your present medical symptoms.
Enter your mobile phone number to identify yourself and you can finalize the appointment booking.
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