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Fractures are common injuries in car accidents, including fractures of the sternum. The sternum, or breastbone, is a flat bone located in the center of the chest, connecting to the ribs and protecting vital organs like the heart and lungs.
While sternum fractures are usually treated conservatively, they should be taken seriously. A broken sternum can cause injury to the heart and lungs or be a sign of severe internal trauma.
A broken or cracked sternum happens in 3% to 7% of car accidents. About 68% of sternum fractures are from motor vehicle accidents, followed by falls (8%), motorcycle accidents (8%), and pedestrian accidents (3%).
Sternum fractures often result from blunt force trauma to the chest. They usually occur in front seat occupants who are wearing their seat belts and are involved in a frontal collision. These injuries become more common with age.
A fracture of the sternum is one of the features of “seat belt syndrome,” a pattern of injuries caused by force transferred by a seat belt. While a seat belt reduces the risk of death and more serious injuries, it can cause a broken sternum, a broken clavicle, and soft tissue injuries.
Most people who sustain a sternal fracture in a crash were wearing a seat belt, but one study found that seat-belted drivers in older cars without airbags were most at risk.
Drivers and front seat passengers not wearing seat belts can still suffer a broken breastbone when the chest collides with the steering column or dashboard. Sometimes, airbag deployment may result in a broken or bruised sternum.
A broken breastbone usually causes sharp chest pain that worsens with breathing, coughing, or movement.
Other symptoms may include:
If you experience any of these symptoms after a car crash, treat it as a medical emergency. A broken sternum can cause injury to the heart and lungs and may be a sign you have more serious internal injuries.
Over 95% of sternum fractures can be treated conservatively with rest and pain management. Most people recover within weeks, although complications can occur.
Isolated fractures are the most likely to heal with conservative measures. For car accident victims with injuries to multiple areas of the body (polytrauma), sternal fractures often come with serious or life-threatening associated injuries. About 17% of polytrauma victims need tracheal intubation, insertion of a chest tube, or a surgical procedure called thoracotomy.
If the fracture is displaced, which means the broken ends are not aligned, surgical fixation is usually necessary.
Some people experience chronic pain after a fractured breastbone. Nonunion, or a non-healing fracture, may happen if the bone does not heal properly. This can lead to instability, pain, and the need for surgical fixation.
Certain factors increase the risk of delayed healing or non-healing fractures, advanced age, diabetes, and long-term steroid use.
Shallow breathing due to the pain of the fracture can also lead to pneumonia or even a collapsed lung in some patients. Breathing exercises may be recommended to reduce the risk of these complications.
Two types of sternal fractures are considered very serious and indicative of severe trauma:
These fractures have a higher rate of other accompanying fractures and organ damage.
Chris O’Brien is a nationally recognized personal injury attorney with over 30 years of experience fighting for accident victims in Western New York. A founding partner at O’Brien & Ford, he has helped recover millions for clients and built a reputation as a top trial lawyer and educator. Chris is a Diplomate of the National College of Advocacy, a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and was named one of Western New York’s Top Ten Lawyers by Buffalo Business First. He lives in Amherst with his family and their Bernedoodle, Moose.
Years of experience: 33 years
Practice areas: Personal Injury Law, Car Accidents
Location: Buffalo, New York
Up to two-thirds of sternal fractures have serious associated injuries. This includes other fractures and injuries to the heart or lungs.
A recent study examined these associated injuries. A sternal fracture was often accompanied by other fractures, including rib (72% of people), thoracic vertebra (32%), scapula (16%), and clavicle (10%).
Most patients also suffered one or more injuries to the organs, including:
Heart and lung injuries and fractures of the ribs and spine are more likely with unstable or displaced sternal fractures. These injuries can be caused by pieces of the fractured breastbone damaging other organs.
Many brain injuries were also associated with fractures of the sternum. In the study, about 18% of patients had intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) or subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). About 7% had intraparenchymal hemorrhage (IPH) or a subdural hematoma.
If you have suffered a sternum fracture in a crash caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. While you focus on healing from your injury, an attorney can fight for the compensation you need to move forward.
For more information, please contact the Buffalo car accidents lawyers at O’Brien & Ford Buffalo Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation with an accident lawyer. We have a convenient office location in Buffalo, NY.
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This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Attorney Chris O’Brien, who has more than 33 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney.
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