抄録
A case of chronic non-traumatic fracture of the left first rib occurring in a 38-year-old housewife with neuropathy-like symptoms resembling whiplash injury was presented.
Onset occurred abruptly during ploughing, but fracture was not recognized until more than one year and four months later. The site of fracture was at anterior neighbouring the cartilage, and roentgenographic findings showed pseudoarthrosis enveloped by a bulbous callus at the first visit to our clinic three years and three months after the onset.
Her clinical course, after correct diagnosis and treatment with medication of minor tranquillizer and calcium lactate, was not eventful and complete bone union with disappearance of clinical distress were observed within a half year.
In order to compare the presented case with those previously reported in our country, 35 cases of non-traumatic fracture of the first rib were listed and reviewed, and the author concluded that though the majority of fractures, especially in those aged under twenty, are induced by muscular pull; the remainder, about 15% of reviewed cases, all of which were over thirty years and including the presented case, should be considered as the result of thoracic inlet insufficiency.
