Signs and symptoms include crepitus (a crunching sound made when broken bone ends rub together), pain, tenderness, bruising, and swelling over the<unk>  site. The<unk>  may visibly move when the person breathes, and it may be bent or deformed, potentially forming a "step" at the junction of the broken bone ends that is detectable by palpation. Associated injuries such as those to the heart may cause symptoms such as abnormalities seen on electrocardiograms. The upper and middle parts of the sternum are those most likely to<unk> , but most<unk> s occur below the<unk>  angle. Associated injuries Because of the high frequency of associated injuries, clinicians are taught to suspect that a patient has multiple severe injuries if a<unk>  is present.<unk>  is commonly associated with injuries to the heart and lungs; if a person is injured with enough force to<unk>  the sternum, injuries such as myocardial and pulmonary contusions are likely. Other associated injuries that may occur include damage to blood vessels in the chest, myocardial rupture, head and abdominal injuries, flail chest, and vertebral<unk> .<unk> s may also accompany rib<unk> s and are high-energy enough injuries to cause bronchial tears (ruptures of the bronchioles). They may hinder breathing. Due to the associated injuries, the mortality rate for people with<unk>  is high, at an estimated 25–45%. However, when<unk> s occur in isolation, their outcome is very good. There is controversy over the question of whether the presence of<unk>  is an indication of cardiac injuries.
Sternal fracture
Flail chest
Rib fracture
Pulmonary hematoma
Pulmonary contusion
Thoracic aorta injury
Esophageal rupture
Diaphragmatic rupture