Amitabh Bachchan recently suffered a muscle tear in his rib cage while filming an action sequence for his upcoming movie Project K in Hyderabad. Bachchan shared the details of the accident on his blog, informing his fans that he had to cancel the shoot and seek medical attention at the AIG Hospital in Hyderabad. He has since been flown back home, where he is taking medication for pain relief and resting.
The injury, which Bachchan described as a popped rib cartilage and muscle tear to the right rib cage, can cause intense pain and spasm. According to Dr Dilip Gude, Senior Consultant Physician at Yashoda Hospitals in Hyderabad, intercostal muscles stabilise the rib cage, and muscle tear in that area may cause sharp pain while breathing, coughing, and sneezing, making it difficult for the patient to move.
Dr Raghu Nagaraj, Director of Orthopaedics and Joint Replacement Surgeon at Fortis Hospital, Cunningham Road, Bangalore, added that such injuries may occur due to sudden twists or stretches or in case of rib fractures resulting from accidents. Age can be a risk factor, as rib fractures in the elderly may occur even due to trivial trauma. Sarcopenia, which is decreased muscle mass, can also be a risk factor in the elderly and may predispose one to intercostal muscle tears.
Dr Rakesh Nair, consultant knee replacement surgeon at Zen Multispeciality Hospital, Chembur, explained that changes in the rib cage due to age could also lead to such injuries. As rib cage size increases somewhat between the ages of 20 and 30 but remains relatively stable between the ages of 30 and 100, there are other form changes that occur with age, such as the angle of the ribs relative to the spine and spinal kyphosis.
To prevent such accidents, Dr Gude suggested indulging in careful workouts, avoiding contact sports, and ensuring adequate intake of vitamin D, magnesium, levocarnitine, protein, etc. Recovery from such injuries may take five to six weeks and involve pain medication, ice packs, and avoiding activities that aggravate the injury. Physiotherapy may take around three to four months to help patients get back to their normal physical activities.
The Chenab Times News Desk