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Costochondritis

Smriti Ohri, MD and Scott A. Fields, MHA, MD Reviewed 05/2023
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • Anterior chest wall pain and tenderness of the costochondral and costosternal regions, most often affecting the 2nd to the 5th costal cartilages

  • System(s) affected: musculoskeletal

  • Syn...

DIAGNOSIS

  • Pain is usually sharp, achy, or pressure-like, involving multiple (and mostly unilateral 2nd to 5th) costal cartilages.

  • Exacerbated by upper body movements and exertional activities

  • Reproduced...

TREATMENT

Reassurance of benign nature of condition and potential for long, slow recovery from pain 

GENERAL MEASURES

  • Rest, local application of heat (or ice), massage

  • Stretching exercises

  • Minimize sympto...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

Follow-up within 1 week if diagnosis is unclear or symptoms do not abate with conservative treatment 

PATIENT EDUCATION

  • Educate regarding the self-limited (although...

REFERENCES

1
Mott T, Jones G, Roman K. Costochondritis: rapid evidence review. Am Fam Physician. 2021;104(1):73–78.
2
Ayloo  A, Cvengros  T, Marella  S. Evaluation and treatment o...

ADDITIONAL READING

Collins RA, Ray N, Ratheal K, et al. Severe post-COVID-19 costochondritis in children. Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent). 2021;35(1):56–57.  

CODES

ICD10

M94.0 Chondrocostal junction syndrome [Tietze] 

SNOMED

  • 64109004 Costalchondritis (disorder)

  • 30128009 Tietze’s disease

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • A common disorder, accounting for up to 30% of all cases of chest pain

  • Diagnosis is primarily clinical. Obtain lab and other testing to exclude other conditions based on patient risk.

  • Se...

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