Stephen Schultz | October 7, 2026 | Personal Injury
A fractured sternum can cause pain in the center of the chest, tenderness, bruising, and discomfort when breathing or moving. Some people also notice swelling or a grinding sensation near the injury. Because chest trauma can damage more than the breastbone, these symptoms deserve prompt medical attention.
After a car accident, fall, or direct blow to the chest, it can be difficult to distinguish a fracture from a bruise. Understanding the warning signs can help you recognize when to seek care and avoid overlooking a potentially serious injury.
Pain in the Center of the Chest
Pain over the breastbone is a common symptom of a sternal fracture. It may feel sharp, aching, or intense, particularly around the injured area.
Chest pain after an accident should never be dismissed as ordinary soreness. Even when pain seems connected to an impact, a medical professional needs to assess its cause. A fracture, muscle injury, and other chest conditions can produce overlapping symptoms.
Pain With Breathing or Coughing
A fractured sternum can make deep breathing painful. Coughing or sneezing may also increase discomfort because these actions move the chest wall.
You may find yourself taking smaller breaths to avoid pain. However, breathing too shallowly and avoiding necessary coughing can make it harder to clear mucus and increase the risk of a chest infection. Tell your healthcare provider if pain prevents you from breathing deeply or coughing effectively.
Tenderness Over the Breastbone
The injured area may be sensitive to touch. Pressure from clothing or contact with the chest can be uncomfortable, and a clinician may find a particularly tender spot during an examination.
Tenderness alone does not establish that the bone is broken. Bruised tissue can also hurt when touched. Avoid repeatedly pressing on your chest to test the injury; an examination and appropriate imaging are safer ways to determine what happened.
Bruising and Swelling
Bruising or swelling may develop over the chest after an impact. Discoloration can appear near the breastbone or along the area where a seat belt crossed the body.
These visible signs reflect trauma, but they do not show the full extent of the injury. A bruise does not necessarily mean the sternum is fractured, and an absence of obvious bruising does not rule out a fracture. Report both visible changes and pain to your doctor.
Pain During Everyday Movements
Chest injuries can make ordinary activities uncomfortable. Sitting up, lying down, or moving your upper body may aggravate pain.
This discomfort can interfere with sleep, work, and household responsibilities. Follow your provider’s instructions about activity, and avoid lifting, pushing, or pulling objects that worsen symptoms. Ask about safe movement rather than assuming complete bed rest is necessary.
Grinding or an Unusual Chest Shape
Some fractures cause a grinding sensation, known as crepitus, or a noticeable change in the breastbone’s shape. These findings can occur when broken bone fragments have shifted.
Do not try to move the bone or correct a visible deformity yourself. Seek medical evaluation. Many fractures do not cause these signs, so their absence should not be used to decide whether an injury needs attention.
Contact the Ladue Personal Injury Lawyers at Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation
A fractured sternum can leave you facing painful limitations, medical expenses, and missed work. Getting medical care promptly can protect your health and help document how the injury affects your life.
If someone else caused your accident in Ladue, Missouri, Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers can explain your options for pursuing compensation.
Contact the attorneys at Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers at the nearest location to schedule a free consultation, we proudly serve all throughout Missouri, including St. Louis County and Boone County and we have offices in St. Louis, Ladue, Columbia, Creve Coeur.
Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers – St. Louis Office
319 N 4th Street, Suite 835, St. Louis, MO 63102
(314) 444-4444
Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers – Columbia Office
28 N 8th St # 502, Columbia, MO 65201
(573) 702-3285
Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers – Ladue Office
9807 S 40 Dr, St. Louis, MO 63124
(314) 912-3302
Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers – Creve Coeur Office
999 Executive Pkwy Dr #205, Creve Coeur, MO 63141
(314) 350-4021
