Rib fractures may take 6 weeks to 6 months to heal. Another less common cause of rib fractures is violent coughing, and such fractures often result from other underlying diseases like osteoporosis or cancer, which reduce the strength of the ribs.
Direct blow to the ribs, such as that resulting from a fall or car accident, is the most common reason for rib fractures. A fractured rib refers to a break in one of the bones of the rib cage, or the break in the cartilage that forms the rib cage.
