Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) for Diagnosis and Treatment of Fractures in the Costal Cartilage

The goal of this observational study is to learn if combining ultrasound and CT scans can better diagnose cartilage fractures in the ribs, and to understand how finding these injuries affects treatment decisions for patients with injuries to the Chest wall. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does using both ultrasound and CT scans find more costal cartilage fractures than CT scans alone? * Does discovering costal cartilage fractures change how patients are treated, such as whether more patients receive surgery or if different fractures are repaired? * How do costal cartilage fractures heal, and do they affect lung function, pain, or the risk of complications after surgery? Patients with cartilage injuries will be followed up at 1, 3, and 12 months after their injury. They will be checked for pain, instability, and healing using ultrasound and sometimes CT scans. The study will also assess lung function, quality of life, and pain levels.

NCT Number	NCT07338617
Lead Sponsor	Sahlgrenska University Hospital
Conditions	Rib Fracture, Cartilage Damage
Enrollment	100 participants
Start Date	2026-06
Primary Completion	2027-01 (estimated)
Study Completion	2028-01 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-04-28