You arrive on the scene where a person without a pulse was found. Someone on the scene performed CPR, but the individual unfortunately could not be revived. On postmortem examination, it is discovered that several ribs and the xiphoid process were fractured. What likely caused these fractures?

Video transcript

Hey, everyone. Let's take a look at this question together. CPR is a life saving medical maneuver that includes repeated chest compressions. However, there is a possibility of fractures to which bones is it? Answer choice. A the sternum answer choice B the clavicle, answer choice C the ribs. Answer choice. D both answer choices A and C or answer choice. E all of the above. Let's work this problem out together to try to figure out which answer choices contains the bones that could receive a fracture as a result of CPR. So in order to solve this question, we have to recall what we have learned about CPR and those repeated chest compressions to determine which bones can result in a fracture due to those repeated chest compressions. And we know that the repeated chest compressions in CPR refers to a constant pushing on the chest, which that pushing includes five centimeters or two inches deep each time. And that five centimeters or two inches deep of that constant pushing on the chest is important since about 30% of patients receiving CPR end up with a broken sternum or even a fracture rib due to that constant pushing on the chest, which is causing compression on the sternum or the ribs. Therefore, a possibility of fractures to the sternum and ribs is the correct answer which we can identify is answer choice. D since answer choices, A and C are both correct making answer choice. D the appropriate answer choice and all other answers are incorrect. I hope you found this video to be helpful. Thank you and goodbye.