How long does a broken sternum take to heal?

The bone typically heals in 10-12 weeks, but chest pain often lasts longer. Full recovery including return to normal activities usually takes 3-6 months, depending on the severity and any complications.

Can you drive with a broken sternum?

Driving is usually too painful initially due to seatbelt pressure and steering wheel positioning. Most people can gradually return to driving after several weeks when pain allows comfortable movement and emergency reactions.

What does a broken sternum feel like?

People describe sharp, stabbing chest pain that worsens with movement, breathing, coughing, or laughing. The pain is often severe enough to make normal activities like getting dressed extremely difficult.

Is a broken sternum serious?

While many heal well, it's a serious injury requiring significant force to occur. The main concerns are potential damage to the heart or lungs and the extended recovery period with substantial pain.

Why does my sternum hurt weeks after my accident?

Sternum pain can persist for months after the initial injury. The bone heals slowly, and surrounding muscles often remain tight and sore from compensating for limited chest movement during recovery.

Can a seatbelt break your sternum?

Yes, seatbelts can cause sternal fractures during severe impacts when they lock and compress the chest with tremendous force. This typically happens in high-speed collisions or sudden stops.

How do doctors diagnose a broken sternum?

Doctors use X-rays to see the fracture, though sometimes CT scans are needed for a clearer view. They also check for heart and lung complications given the force required to break this bone.

Will a broken sternum show up on X-ray immediately?

Most sternal fractures are visible on X-rays right after the injury, especially on side-view chest X-rays. However, some hairline fractures might not be clearly visible until swelling develops or on follow-up imaging.

Broken Sternum After a Car Accident in Arizona

How This Injury Happens

Car accidents can break the sternum when tremendous force compresses the chest. This often happens in head-on collisions when the driver's chest slams into the steering wheel or when a seatbelt locks during sudden deceleration.

The sternum is a thick, strong bone that takes significant impact to fracture. When the chest experiences this level of trauma, the breastbone may crack along its length or break completely. The same forces that break the sternum can also injure the heart, lungs, or ribs underneath.

Rear-end crashes can also cause sternal fractures if the impact forces the person forward against their seatbelt or if they brace against the steering wheel expecting collision. Side-impact crashes may cause this injury if the person is thrown across the vehicle interior.

Common Symptoms

Sharp, intense chest pain that worsens with movement or deep breathing (immediate)
Difficulty taking deep breaths or shortness of breath (immediate)
Visible swelling or bruising across the center of the chest (immediate)
Shoulder and upper back stiffness from avoiding arm movement (delayed)
Pain that radiates to the shoulders or arms (immediate)
Grinding or popping sensation when moving the upper body (immediate)
Persistent fatigue from difficulty sleeping due to pain (delayed)

What Insurance Companies Will Try

!Insurance adjusters sometimes argue the injury was pre-existing, especially in older claimants who may have age-related bone weakness
!Adjusters may claim the fracture is minor since many heal without surgery, downplaying the significant pain and recovery time involved
!They might question whether the force in the accident was sufficient to cause the fracture, since it takes considerable impact to break the sternum
!Insurance companies sometimes rush to settle before complications like breathing problems or heart issues become apparent

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Treatment Options

Most people with broken sternums heal without surgery through careful rest and pain management. Doctors often prescribe strong pain medication since even breathing can be extremely uncomfortable. People typically need to avoid lifting, pushing, or any activities that strain the chest muscles for several weeks.

Breathing exercises become important early in recovery, even though they hurt. Shallow breathing from pain can lead to lung problems, so medical teams often teach specific techniques to keep the lungs clear. Physical therapy usually starts once the initial healing begins, focusing on gradually restoring normal movement.

Surgery (sternal fixation with plates and screws) may be necessary if the bone pieces are severely displaced or if the fracture creates instability in the chest wall. Some people need surgical repair if conservative treatment isn't controlling their pain or if complications develop with breathing or heart function.

Potential Complications

The force required to break a sternum can also damage the heart or lungs underneath. Some people develop heart rhythm problems (cardiac contusion) or lung bruising (pulmonary contusion) that may not be apparent immediately after the accident. These complications can cause breathing difficulties, chest pain, or irregular heartbeat that develops over the first few days.

Without proper movement during recovery, people often develop significant shoulder and upper back problems from avoiding normal arm motion. The prolonged pain and limited mobility can lead to muscle weakness and joint stiffness that persists long after the bone heals. Some individuals experience chronic pain at the fracture site, especially during weather changes or physical activity.

Medical Overview

Clinical terminology for medical and legal professionals

A sternal fracture is a disruption in the continuity of the sternum, most commonly affecting the body of the sternum but potentially involving the manubrium or xiphoid process. The injury typically results from direct anterior chest wall trauma with significant force application. Sternal fractures are classified by location (manubrium, body, or xiphoid process) and displacement pattern. Associated injuries may include pulmonary contusions, cardiac contusions, or underlying thoracic organ damage due to the significant mechanism required to fracture this robust bone. Diagnosis is confirmed through lateral chest radiographs or CT imaging when plain films are inconclusive. Treatment ranges from conservative management with analgesics and activity modification for stable, non-displaced fractures to surgical fixation with plates and screws for significantly displaced or unstable fractures causing flail chest or persistent pain.