Flail sternum

This video illustrates paradoxical movement of the sternum during spontaneous ventilation in a patient who sustained a respiratory arrest followed by cardiac arrest due to choking. The patient was successfully resuscitated with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), which resulted in fractures of ribs 2 to 8 bilaterally, with most fractures located at the costochondral junction. There was no pain, but the patient was markedly short of breath and not able to ambulate. Following operative stabilization of ribs 3 and 4 bilaterally, the dyspnea resolved and the patient was discharged to a rehabilitation facility.