when does flail chest occur
Flail chest is multiple adjacent rib fractures that result in a segment of the chest wall separating from the rest of the thoracic cage; it is a marker for injury to the underlying lung. A single rib may fracture in more than one place. If multiple adjacent ribs fracture in â¥ 2 places, the breaks in each rib result in a segment of chest wall that is not mechanically connected to the rest of the thoracic cage (flail segment). This flail segment moves paradoxically (ie, outward during expiration and inward during inspirationâsee Figure: Flail chest.).