What is a distinctive sign that a patient has flail chest?
  1. Cyanosis
  2. Hypotension
  3. Dyspnea, especially on exhalation
  4. Paradoxical chest movement
Explanation
Answer: D - A patient with flail chest would have paradoxical chest movement. The flail chest comes from several sections of rib being broken, resulting in a floating section of ribs. This small section moves in the opposite direction of the rest of the chest during inspiration and expiration.

According to the Mayo Clinic, flail chest is defined as two or more contiguous rib fractures with two or more breaks per rib.  Flail chest is a severe form of trauma associated with high mortality. Flail chest a portion of the chest wall is destabilized, most commonly from severe blunt force trauma. 
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