Costochondritis

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
• Synonym(s): costosternal syndrome; parasternal chondrodynia; anterior chest wall syndrome

Epidemiology

• Predominant age: 40 to 50 years
• Predominant gender: female

Incidence

• 30% emergency room visits for chest pain
• 13% primary care visits for chest pain

Etiology and Pathophysiology

Although not fully understood, inflammation can be caused by pulling from adjoining muscles at costochondral or costosternal regions.

Risk Factors

• Unusual physical activity or upper extremity overuse
• Recent trauma (including motor vehicle accident, domestic violence) or new-onset physical activity
• Recent upper respiratory infection (URI) with coughing