After the fall: Is there more to this terribly painful tumble?
A chest wall injury after a heavy fall leads to an unexpected diagnosis.
Dan, a 39-year-old generally well restauranteur, fell while lifting cartons of wine, landing heavily on the right side of his chest wall. He presents later that day to his GP with significant localised right chest wall pain despite having taken paracetamol and ibuprofen.
Dan has a background of obesity, with a BMI of 31kg/m2 (weight 100kg, height 178cm). He smokes 20 cigarettes a day and has noticed increasing shortness of breath on exertion over the past few years. He has no known allergies and takes no regular medications.
