Sternal Fractures

Overview

4.4 out of 5 (38 Reviews)

Credits

1.00

Post Assessment Questions

6

Start Date

1 Sep 2023

Last Review Date

22 Jun 2024

Expiration Date

31 Aug 2026

Estimated Time To Finish

60 Minutes


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Activity Description

Sternal fracture primarily results from blunt, anterior chest-wall trauma and deceleration injuries and have an incidence of 3% to 6.8% in motor vehicle collisions. Additional causes include athletic injuries, falls, and assaults. Clinicians commonly diagnose these fractures using lateral chest radiographs or chest computed tomography scans. Sternal fractures significantly increase the risk of other injuries, which influences patient disposition regarding associated injuries, comorbidities, and pain management. Most patients with sternal fractures present to the emergency department and may require close monitoring, sometimes in an intensive care unit. Although most patients recover within 4 to 6 weeks, some may experience chronic pain or nonunion.

The evaluation and management of sternal fractures follow Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) guidelines. This begins with an assessment of the airway, breathing, and circulation, followed by a primary survey to address life-threatening conditions. Associated injuries, such as tension pneumothorax, hemothorax, cardiac tamponade, and flail chest, must be promptly managed. While sternal fractures pose significant risks, effective management and multidisciplinary care usually lead to favorable patient outcomes. This activity outlines the evaluation and treatment of sternal fractures and describes the role of the interprofessional healthcare team in providing care to patients with this injury.


Target Audience

This activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of physicians, physician associates, nurses, pharmacists, and nurse practitioners.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this activity, the learner will be better able to:

  • Identify the common causes and risk factors associated with sternal fractures, including motor vehicle collisions, falls, and sports-related injuries.

  • Implement Advanced Trauma Life Support guidelines in treating patients with suspected sternal fractures.

  • Select appropriate imaging techniques, including lateral radiographs and computed tomography scans, to accurately diagnose sternal fractures.

  • Collaborate with an interprofessional healthcare team, including nurses and respiratory and physical therapists, to provide comprehensive care for patients with sternal fractures.

Disclosures

StatPearls, LLC requires everyone who influences the content of an educational activity to disclose relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies that have occurred within the past 24 months. Ineligible companies are organizations whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. All relevant conflict(s) of interest have been mitigated. Hover over contributor names for financial disclosures. Others involved in planning this educational activity have no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Commercial Support: This activity has received NO commercial support.

Continuing Education Accreditation Information

In support of improving patient care, StatPearls, LLC is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

 

Nurses: StatPearls designates this activity for 1.00 ANCC contact hour(s). Nurses should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Please consult your professional licensing board for information on the applicability and acceptance of continuing education credit for this activity.

Method of Participation and Credit

  1. Register for the activity.    
  2. Review the target audience, learning objectives, and disclosure information.
  3. Study the educational content of the enduring material.
  4. Choose the best answer to each activity test question. To receive credit and a certificate, you must pass the test questions with a minimum score of 100%.
  5. Complete the post-activity assessment survey.

If you have concerns regarding the CE/CME system, please contact support@statpearls.com.

Disclaimer

This educational activity was planned and produced in accordance with the ACCME Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Faculty may discuss investigational products or off-label uses of products regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration. Readers should verify all information before employing any therapies described in this educational activity.

The information provided for this activity is for continuing education purposes only and is not meant to substitute for the independent medical/clinical judgment of a healthcare provider relative to diagnostic and treatment options of a specific patient’s medical condition. The information presented does not necessarily reflect the views of StatPearls or any commercial supporters of educational activities on statpearls.com. StatPearls expressly disclaims responsibility for any adverse consequences resulting directly or indirectly from information in the course, for undetected error, or through a participant's misunderstanding of the content.

Unapproved Uses of Drugs/Devices: In accordance with FDA requirements, the audience is advised that information presented in this continuing education activity may contain references to unlabeled or unapproved uses of drugs or devices. Please refer to the FDA-approved package insert for each drug/device for full prescribing/utilization information.

Cancellation Policy: Please see the cancellation policy. StatPearls, LLC reserves the right to cancel any course due to unforeseen circumstances.

 

 
 

Reviews

Arthur C. on 1/13/2021

Paul F. on 7/22/2021

Ehsan Q. on 6/8/2022

Geraldine W. on 7/17/2022

Leon C. on 9/27/2022

Amanda C. on 11/4/2022

kenneth h. on 12/13/2022

Cynthia O. on 12/17/2022

Gaston D. on 1/8/2023

Sesha A. on 2/17/2023

too many survey qustions

Anne W. on 3/25/2023

Ezra I. on 4/5/2023

Would recommend this article to all Primary Care physicians.

Bernadette M. on 4/20/2023

ASEEDU K. on 5/7/2023

TIMOTHY L. on 5/30/2023

Brian C. on 6/2/2023

Jason R. on 7/7/2023

Hertzel s. on 7/13/2023

James B. on 7/13/2023

David R. on 7/14/2023

Arthur C. on 8/1/2023

james c. on 8/9/2023

rafiq k. on 8/10/2023

Amos D. on 8/11/2023

great reveiw

asi y. on 8/27/2023

Robbin C. on 8/31/2023

Agnieszka G. on 9/14/2023

jason c. on 9/17/2023

Catherine P. on 9/18/2023

Trantran N. on 9/19/2023

steven s. on 9/20/2023

Sharon S. on 9/21/2023

Angel L. on 9/26/2023

Warren M. on 9/26/2023

wasim s. on 9/26/2023

Yan L. on 9/27/2023

ROBERT S. on 1/3/2024

Tyler S. on 2/1/2024

Unlimited Nurse CE

Stay up to date on the latest medical knowledge with 6821 CE activities. In these online self-assessment activities, read our reference articles and test your knowledge with more than 8103.5 hours of CE.

Single Activity

Take this single activity

$25 1 activity

6 Month Unlimited Nurse CE

Access to all the Unlimited Nurse CE activities in all specialties.

$89 per half year per user

1 Year Unlimited Nurse CE

Access to all the Unlimited Nurse CE activities in all specialties.

$139 per 1 year per user