A woman in China’s Jiangsu province suffered five broken ribs and a fracture in another after her husband hugged her when she complained of feeling cold.
According to Chinese media outlet Jingshi Live, the woman’s husband, surnamed Wang, embraced her, only to hear a cracking sound during the hug. His wife immediately crouched down in pain and was unable to get back up.
Wang said he had used normal force and never expected the embrace to leave his wife with such serious injuries.
Speaking to Hubei Jingshi Live on Oct 19, Wang said his wife endured the pain throughout the night before seeking medical attention at a hospital the following morning.
A chest CT scan revealed that five of her ribs were fractured, while another had sustained a hairline fracture.
Doctors determined that she did not require surgery and prescribed medication, medicated patches and rest. She has since been discharged and is recovering at home, with follow-up examinations scheduled every five days.
Wang said doctors believed osteoporosis was the main factor behind the injuries. The condition weakens bones, making them more vulnerable to fractures, even under relatively minor physical force.
He revealed that his wife weighed between 45kg and 50kg and regularly dieted, including skipping dinner. She also drank at least one cup of coffee every day.
The woman worked at the family’s shop, which was just a two to three minutes’ drive from their home. She usually covered herself up when going outdoors and rarely spent time in the sun.
Sunlight helps the body produce vitamin D, which is essential for calcium absorption and maintaining bone density.
Following the incident, Wang said his wife was concentrating on her recovery and had begun making an effort to get more sunlight and increase her calcium intake.
Yan Yanxiang, an associate chief orthopaedic physician at Wuhan Asia Heart General Hospital, told Jingshi Live that rib fractures caused by the force of an ordinary hug were uncommon among younger people.
He said osteoporosis was likely a contributing factor in the woman’s case and noted that lifestyle and dietary habits could affect bone health.
Yan pointed to her limited sunlight exposure and daily coffee consumption, explaining that caffeine could contribute to calcium loss. Excessive consumption of strong tea, other unhealthy lifestyle habits and the use of steroid medications could also accelerate calcium loss from bones.
However, the report did not establish that the woman’s daily coffee consumption directly caused her osteoporosis.
Yan added that rib fractures generally do not require surgery if there are no complications affecting the lungs or pleura, the membrane surrounding the lungs. Such complications can include breathing difficulties or a collapsed lung.
To help maintain bone health, he recommended adequate calcium and vitamin D intake, appropriate sunlight exposure and resistance exercises.
