Which is a sign of a rib fracture in the field?

• A. Sharp localized chest pain
• B. Nausea and vomiting
• C. Widespread facial swelling
• D. Chest bruise without pain

Answer: (A)

Rib fractures show up in the field most reliably as sharp, localized chest pain that you can point to on the rib cage. That pain tends to be directly over the injured rib and is reproduced or worsened by deep breaths, coughing, or moving the chest. Palpating along the rib cage usually makes the pain come alive, which is a key clue in quick field assessment.

Nausea and vomiting can occur with trauma but aren’t specific to a rib fracture, so they don’t reliably indicate this injury. A widespread facial swelling isn’t connected to rib injuries, and a chest bruise without pain would be inconsistent with a rib fracture because the fracture itself typically causes noticeable pain. So the presence of sharp, localized chest pain tied to a precise rib spot makes this sign the best indicator in the field.