Understanding a Bruised Sternum: What Are the Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Legal Rights?

November 26, 2025 | Personal Injury

Understanding a Bruised Sternum: What Are the Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Legal Rights?

Your sternum is the large, flat bone in the middle of your chest. It protects vital organs in your chest, and injuries to the sternum can be both painful and complicated. Even a bruised sternum can cause significant pain, and victims who suffer this type of injury need to understand their legal rights. 

Keep reading below to learn more about the symptoms and diagnosis of a bruised sternum, as well as your legal rights arising out of this type of injury.

Symptoms of a Bruised Sternum

Understanding the symptoms of a bruised sternum is crucial for receiving the correct diagnosis and medical treatment. These symptoms often come on suddenly, especially after an accident involving impact to the chest area. 

Some of the most common symptoms of a bruised sternum include:

  • Tenderness in the chest area
  • Sudden onset of chest pain
  • Bruising around the sternum and chest
  • Chest pain when coughing
  • Chest pain when sneezing
  • Persistent chest pain that is isolated to the chest area

Not only may these symptoms indicate a bruised sternum, but they could also suggest a fractured sternum. A fractured sternum is a more severe injury, and the treatment for either injury can vary significantly. 

Medical treatment may be necessary to properly diagnose your injury, allowing you to follow the proper protocol to ensure a correct and effective healing process.

What Causes a Bruised Sternum?

A bruised sternum is typically caused by a forceful impact to the sternum or chest area. 

This injury is common after accidents that result in this type of impact, such as:

Intentional acts, such as an assault, could also cause a bruised sternum. Similarly, these same types of accidents can also result in a sternum fracture. 

Diagnosing a Bruised Sternum

Properly diagnosing a bruised sternum usually requires the expertise of a medical professional. Since the symptoms of a bruised sternum and a fractured sternum are so similar, tests may be required to tell the difference. Diagnostic images, such as X-rays or CT scans, can identify potential fractures.

These types of tests can reveal the extent of the injury, and the outcome of the diagnosis will determine the appropriate treatment plan. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms after an accident, you should immediately seek medical care for a proper diagnosis of your injuries.

Treatment for a Bruised Sternum

Once you have been diagnosed with a bruised sternum, you will need to follow your doctor’s specific instructions so that you can recover from your injury. 

Rest is generally the main course of treatment for a bruised sternum. A bruised sternum will usually heal without complications as long as you get the proper amount of rest and follow your doctor’s orders. During your recovery, you may be able to use over-the-counter medication or ice packs to provide temporary relief from the pain.

In rare cases, surgery may be required to repair or reposition the bone. These situations are more complex, and it is more likely that complications could arise in these cases. 

If you begin to experience shortness of breath or any additional symptoms, you should immediately inform your doctor. Chest infections or other complications could have serious consequences.

Contact Our Lancaster Personal Injury Lawyers at Marzzacco Niven & Associates  for a Free Consultation

If you have suffered a bruised sternum in an accident that was someone else’s fault, you may be entitled to recover compensation for your injury. Pennsylvania law allows accident victims to recover both economic and non-economic damages. 

After an accident, our Lancaster personal injury lawyers can help you pursue compensation for your bruised sternum and other injuries. Contact Marzzacco Niven & Associates to schedule a free consultation.

f you’ve been injured or need a lawyer to help you with your case, please contact Marzzacco Niven & Associates at the nearest location to schedule a free consultation today:

Marzzacco Niven & Associates Harrisburg
945 East Park Drive, Suite 103 Harrisburg, PA 17111
(717) 231-1640

Marzzacco Niven & Associates York
2550 Kingston Road, Suite 210A York, PA 17401
(717) 995-8998

Marzzacco Niven & Associates Wyomissing
833 N. Park Road, Suite 103, Room A Wyomissing, PA 19610
(717) 388-2325

Marzzacco Niven & Associates Chambersburg
79 St. Paul Drive, Suite 1 Chambersburg, PA 17201
(717) 388-2378

Marzzacco Niven & Associates Carlisle
354 Alexander Springs Road Carlisle, PA 17015
(717) 995-8732

Marzzacco Niven & Associates Carbondale
30 Lincoln Avenue, Suite 101 Carbondale, PA 18407
(717) 995-8810

Marzzacco Niven & Associates Lancaster
2173 Embassy Drive, Ste 123, Lancaster Pa 17603
(717) 616-2954

Marzzacco Niven & Associates Lebanon
937 Willow Street, Suite D Lebanon, PA 17042-1140
(717) 995-8963