what parts of the body are affected by a fractured rib
Clinical Relevance: Rib Fractures. Rib fractures most commonly occur in the middle ribs, as a consequence of crushing injuries or direct trauma. A common complication of a rib fracture is further soft tissue injury from the broken fragments. Structures most at risk of damage are the lungs, spleen or diaphragm. If two or more fractures occur in two or more adjacent ribs, the affected area is no longer under control of the thoracic muscles. It displays a paradoxical movement during lung inflation and deflation.