Costochondritis: What Is It And Why Does It Occur?
Costochondritis is a pathology that produces intense pain in the chest that tends to be confused with serious or urgent situations. For example, it usually requires a differential diagnosis with a condition of cardiac or pulmonary origin.
It is also called the costo-sternal syndrome . What happens is an inflammation in the area of union of the ribs. The problem is not only the ease of confusion, but also, the pain can be very powerful.
What is Costonchondritis?
Costochondritis is an inflammatory process that occurs in the cartilage that connects the ribs. It can also affect the junction between the breastbone and the ribs or the breastbone and the clavicles.
According to a study published in the journal Nursing , almost a third of patients who come to the emergency room for chest pain suffer from costochondritis. This data is one of the most relevant, since it indicates the ease with which it can be confused with other entities. For example, with heart or lung pathologies.
It can also be confused with rib fractures, spinal disorders, or shoulder injuries. The reason is that costochondritis can vary in its location. The most common is that it occurs only on one side of the chest.
It is important to emphasize that this pathology is self-limited. In other words, it generally resolves on its own in a matter of weeks or months. The pain that occurs can appear both at rest and during movements and there is usually no swelling.
Tietze syndrome
Tietze syndrome is a special form of costochondritis. What happens is that the pain appears isolated and is located in the second or third intercostal space.
The inflammation that occurs leads to swelling that is visible to the naked eye. In some cases, redness may even appear in the area. The pain is intermittent.
The problem is that this process can damage the intercostal nerve that is located in that space. This nerve innervates a large body territory that includes intercostal muscles and others located in the back. Therefore, when it is damaged, it leads to muscle contractures in different places.
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