North Carolina EMT State Practice Exam 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

Flail chest is characterized by the presence of two or more ribs broken in two or more places, creating a segment of the chest wall that becomes detached from the rest of the thoracic cavity. This condition results in paradoxical movement of the affected segment during breathing; while the rest of the chest expands, the flail segment may sink in during inhalation and bulge out during exhalation. This can significantly impair respiratory mechanics and lead to difficulties in ventilation, making it a serious condition that requires immediate medical attention.

In contrast, pneumothorax involves air entering the pleural cavity, leading to lung collapse, but does not specifically describe the pattern of rib fractures. Hemothorax refers to blood accumulation in the pleural space, which may or may not involve rib fractures but is focused on the presence of blood rather than the structural integrity of the ribs. Rib fracture is a more general term that does not capture the specific scenario of multiple fractures leading to a flail segment. Therefore, flail chest is the most accurate term to denote the described condition.