Paradoxical chest wall movement in a patient with multiple fractured ribs of the right thorax is characterized by
a. expansion of the thorax upon inspiration while the injured area of the chest wall is depressed.
b. bulging of the intercostal spaces during inspiration on the side of the injury.
c. unilateral expansion with no expansion on the side of the injury.
d. shallow respirations on the side of the injury.
A
In paradoxical or seemingly contradictory chest wall movement, the unaffected part of the thorax will rise during inspiration while the affected area will fall. Broken ribs from trauma to the chest wall, or flail chest, interferes with the normal rib cage dynamics during the respiratory process and may lead to paradoxical chest-wall movement. Conditions where the lung is absent or collapsed (pneumothorax) are characterized by unilateral thoracic expansion or absence of expansion on the affected side.
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