# Broken sternum and some broken ribs - how long in hospital? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 14, 2014, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broken-sternum-and-some-broken-ribs-how-long-in-hospital/695510 "2014-08-14T13:04:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![brujaja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2014, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broken-sternum-and-some-broken-ribs-how-long-in-hospital/695510/1 "2014-08-14T13:04:09Z")
I know YANMD and MRMV but, someone I know had a bicycle wreck last night; he went over the handlebars and broke his sternum and some ribs. He is not insured at all, although he would definitely qualify for state medical assistance. Is it likely that the hospital will boot him out sometime today, or would this injury warrant another night as an inpatient? ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2014, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broken-sternum-and-some-broken-ribs-how-long-in-hospital/695510/2 "2014-08-14T14:26:22Z")
Once the patient is stabilized there’s no reason for them to be in the hospital for a broken bone. My daughter fell off a horse and broke her clavicle and was only in the hospital overnight. There wasn’t a whole lot they could do about it. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2014, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broken-sternum-and-some-broken-ribs-how-long-in-hospital/695510/3 "2014-08-14T17:46:49Z")
Medical advice is best suited to IMHO. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2014, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broken-sternum-and-some-broken-ribs-how-long-in-hospital/695510/4 "2014-08-14T17:54:14Z")
Unless there are complications such as a punctured lung or damage to internal organs, I doubt more time in the hospital is warranted. I fell off a mule once and broke four ribs. I went to the emergency room the next morning and all they did was take X-rays, diagnose the break, give me some really nice painkillers, and send me home. [Here’s](http://www.physioadvisor.com.au/14651050/sternal-fracture-fractured-sternum-physioadvis.htm) the typical treatment for an ordinary sternal fracture: > [@](#): > > Once … the sternal fracture has been confirmed as only minor and non-displaced, treatment will typically consists of rest from aggravating activities, pain relieving medication and the encouragement of pain free deep breathing exercises to prevent localized collapse of the lungs. None of this requires hospitalization. Nothing much can be done for broken ribs or a fractured sternum except avoiding further damage and allowing time to heal. ---
**Author:** ![kinoons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a698b9/32.png) [@kinoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kinoons)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2014, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broken-sternum-and-some-broken-ribs-how-long-in-hospital/695510/5 "2014-08-15T17:35:10Z")
As noted above unless there is extenuating circumstances broken ribs and sternum are treated outpatient with pain medications and breathing exercises. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2014, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broken-sternum-and-some-broken-ribs-how-long-in-hospital/695510/6 "2014-08-16T01:52:24Z")
That’s the nice thing about torso fractures. Once the medics have determined that all the ends are lined up, it’s mostly a matter of avoiding strenuous actions that could cause further damage. The broken bones are supported and kept in alignment by adjacent bones. Your friend might get a compression wrap to reduce movement, but that’s about it now. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2014, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broken-sternum-and-some-broken-ribs-how-long-in-hospital/695510/7 "2014-08-16T02:14:06Z")
A broken sternum can be very serious. I would imagine they are checking him closely for heart and lung problems.