Abstract
We present two cases of atraumatic costal cartilage fracture secondary to violent
coughing. Although costal cartilage fractures due to trauma and bony rib fractures
due to violent coughing have been described, to our knowledge there have been no prior
reported cases of cough-induced costal cartilage fracture. It is important for radiologists
to consider costal cartilage fractures, which are often more subtle than osseous injuries,
in patients with chest pain, and understand that they may not always be preceded by
direct trauma. Identifying this injury is clinically important and will prevent patients
from undergoing unnecessary examinations to rule out a cardiac cause of chest pain
or a pulmonary embolism.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: March 13, 2019
Accepted:
March 12,
2019
Received in revised form:
March 2,
2019
Received:
January 27,
2019
Identification
Copyright
© 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
