slipped rib

Last reviewed 01/2018

A slipped rib refers to a break in the costal cartilage of a rib which overrides the margin of the costal cartilage that it was joined to. It typically happens to the tenth rib; the costal cartilage at this point overrides the superior costal cartilage at the interchondral joint.

Typical presentation is with anterior thoracic cage pain on chest movement. Young women seem particularly prone to slipped rib.