SLIPPING RIB SYNDROME IN CHILDHOOD

Slipping rib syndrome is an unusual cause of lower chest and upper abd ominal pain in children not mentioned in major pediatric surgical text s, The syndrome occurs when the medial fibrous attachments of the eigh th, ninth, or tenth ribs are inadequate or ruptured, allowing their ca rtilage tip to slip superiorly and impinge on the intervening intercos tal nerve, This may cause a variety of somatic and visceral complaints . Although the diagnosis may be made based on history and physical exa mination, lack of recognition of this disorder frequently leads to ext ensive diagnostic evaluations before definitive therapy, The authors r eport on four children who have this disorder, Copyright (C) 1997 by W .B. Saunders Company.