𝐋𝐞𝐭'𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐛𝐮𝐧𝐤 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐏𝐑 𝐦𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐬
𝐌𝐲𝐭𝐡: Cracking ribs during CPR means you're going the proper depth.
𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭: Cracking ribs typically has no bearing as to whether or not you're performing CPR correctly. You're usually separating the cartilage between the sternum and rib cage, rather than cracking ribs. If you're doing CPR on an elderly patient with brittle bones, you might separate cartilage, you might not. If you're doing CPR on a larger person with a lot of chest muscle/fat, you're most likely not going to. You should not AIM to crack ribs, as sometimes that can actually mean you're performing CPR improperly (e.g., compressing too deep, improper hand placement). Studies have shown that only ~30% of people resuscitated actually have cracked ribs.
At the end of the day, proper technique and hand placement while performing CPR will prevent cracking ribs in most cases.
Comments (8)
My experience is that the older the person, the more likely you will separate that cartilage.
Reading this makes me squirm in my seat XD But hey, it's saving lives so can't be too squirmish about it.
I would be curious if that 30% involved trauma related resuscitation that may have previously injured the ribs. Especially in MVA patients.
Science hasn't changed people just learned what to do with it
Air Goes In Air Goes Out
Blood goes round and round
Red is good and Blue is bad
(simply oversimplified)