FACTS & HINTS

High-Yield Facts

Clinical Points

The sternum can be divided to gain access to the thoracic cavityfor surgical operations. This is called a median sternotomy.

The middle ribs are most commonlyfractured, and multiple rib fractures can manifest as a "flail chest," where the injured region of the chest wall moves paradoxically, that is, in on inspiration and out on expiration.

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