Fracturas costales simétricas asociadas a tos / Symmetrical rib fractures associated with chronic cough: report of one case

ABSTRACT

Cough may be associated with complications such as syncope, urinary incontinence, pneumothorax, and less frequently, pulmonary hernia and costal fractures. Chronic cough is a cause of rib fractures and when they occur it is likely to affect more than one rib. We report a 53 year-old obese male in treatment with enalapril 10 mg for hypertension with a dry cough lasting five months. He consulted for bilateral chest pain and a Chest X ray examination showed symmetrical fractures in the seventh left and right ribs. Enalapril was discontinued, cough and pain subsided in two weeks.