The treatment method for displaced rib fractures needs to be determined based on the number of rib fractures, the severity, and the presence of concomitant injuries. If a rib fracture is accompanied by displacement but has no impact on the stability of the chest wall and there are no symptoms such as difficulty breathing, surgery may not be required. Conservative treatment with a chest binder can be adopted.
If the displaced rib punctures the pleural cavity, causing damage to the lung tissue and resulting in a pneumothorax, surgical treatment is necessary. If there are multiple fractures of multiple ribs, it can easily lead to a decline in respiratory function and also cause displacement of the mediastinum, affecting cardiac function. In this case, surgical treatment is also required.
Even if there are multiple rib fractures with obvious displacement, they can fully heal after active treatment. It usually takes about three months for the fractures to basically heal.