It’s called chest wall blunt trauma because it’s the result of a blunt or flat object hitting the chest wall, destabilizing it and leaving it “floating”. It’s common for trauma to the chest

What does flail chest mean?

Flail chest — defined as two or more contiguous rib fractures with two or more breaks per rib — is one of the most serious of these injuries and is often associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. It occurs when a portion of the chest wall is destabilized, usually from severe blunt force trauma.

Why is flail chest threatening?

When they move during breathing or other movement, these fractured ends can cause damage to the surrounding muscles, blood vessels, or even to your lungs and heart. This can cause internal bleeding, which can be life-threatening. Flail chest also can make it very difficult for you to breathe.