Displaced sternum fractures are generally set (reduced)
without surgery. This is called a closed reduction.
Non-displaced fractures do not need to be set. The
usual method for reducing a fractured sternum is
to place the patient on his back on a table that
bends backward, so that your head is below the level
of your chest. Your physician will find the area
of the fracture and use both hands to apply pressure
so that set the broken bone, rejoining and aligning
it.
Home
Recovery
You should take it easy for a several days after
a sternum fracture. Avoid activities that involve
strenuous rotation of your arms or upper body. Try
not to lift heavy objects. Be sure to breath normally.
If shortness of breath bothers you, call your physician
immediately. You usually can perform some light
exercise as you can tolerate the pain, but you should
avoid all activities that strain your body. Pain
and other symptoms normally don’t last more
than six to eight weeks, but you are at risk of
symptoms returning if you return to sports and activities
too early. Your physician typically schedules regular
check-up visits to monitor your progress. Wait until
your physician has determined that you ribs have
sufficiently healed before returning to sports.
While recovering, be on the lookout for signs of
complications. Call your physician if you notice
the following:
Shortness
of breath.
Bad
coughing or coughing up fluid.
A
fever.
Vomiting.
Pain
in your abdomen or belly.
Rehabilitation
Your activity level following a sternum fracture
will be markedly limited for several weeks, so it
is important to keep your aerobic conditioning by
doing aerobic exercises. Upper-body strengthening
exercises will likely be necessary if you play a
sport or do an activity that requires upper-body
strength. Athletes who have a severe sternum fracture
and play a sport that puts them at risk of re-injury
may need to consider discontinuing that sport.
Once your fractured sternum has healed, there is
very little anyone can do to avoid a recurrence
of the injury aside from avoiding activities or
sports in which you could be injured. Regular conditioning
or training, however, can be resumed as soon as
pain and any other symptoms subside.
Shortness
of breath.
