A 44-year-old patient presents to the emergency department complaining of sharp, localized chest pain that worsens upon taking deep breaths or coughing. On examination, the pain is reproducible with palpation of the costosternal, costochondral, or costovertebral joints. Based on these findings, which condition is the patient most likely experiencing?
Costochondritis is characterized by inflammation of the cartilage that connects the ribs to the sternum (breastbone) leading to chest pain which is often sharp and localized. It can be exacerbated by movements that involve the chest wall such as deep breathing or coughing, and tenderness is typically present upon palpation of the involved area. The description of reproducible pain with palpation of the costosternal, costochondral, or costovertebral joints aligns with the clinical manifestation of costochondritis.
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Musculoskeletal and Wound Emergencies
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