Ruth Bader Ginsburg fractured 3 ribs — here's what her recovery will look like

Anxiety among the devoted fanbase of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was at an all-time high on Thursday morning after news broke that the 85-year-old fractured her ribs in a fall and has landed in the hospital. Tweets began pouring in, with people expressing concern over what this means for her role on the court and offering — jokingly, it seems safe to assume — their own ribs.

According to the Associated Press, Ginsburg fell while in her office at the Supreme Court and fractured three ribs as a result. “She went home, but after experiencing discomfort overnight, went to George Washington University Hospital early this morning,” the Supreme Court’s press secretary told the media on Thursday. “Tests showed that she fractured three ribs on her left side, and she was admitted for observation and treatment.”

While fans’ concerned reactions about the veteran Justice are understandable, fractured ribs are non-life-threatening. Here are four things you need to know:

‘Fractured rib’ can mean a few different things

According to a University of Michigan webpage about fractured ribs, the terms “broken” and “fractured” — at least in the rib area — are not necessarily synonymous. “A rib fracture is a crack or break in one of the bones of the rib cage,” the explainer reads. “A break in the thick tissue (cartilage) that connects the ribs to the breastbone may also be called a fractured rib, even if the bone itself is not broken.”

If the fracture is a crack, it’s less serious

According to an explainer from the Mayo Clinic, not all injuries to the ribs come with the same risks. “Many broken ribs are merely cracked,” it reads. “While still painful, cracked ribs aren’t as potentially dangerous as ribs that have been broken into separate pieces. A jagged edge of broken bone can damage major blood vessels or internal organs, such as the lung.”

The injury takes at least six weeks to heal, but rarely requires surgery

A Mount Sinai Hospital webpage about aftercare for rib fractures describes a broken or fractured rib as a “very painful” injury that causes moderate to severe discomfort while taking a deep breath, moving your upper body, or coughing. The injury most often heals on its own, sometimes in as little as six weeks. “If you injure other body organs, you may need to stay in the hospital,” according to Mount Sinai Hospital’s explainer. “Otherwise, you can heal at home. Most people with broken ribs do not need surgery.”

It can cause serious complications

Although fractured ribs themselves are not particularly dangerous, their proximity to major organs means that they can put individuals — especially someone in their 80s — at risk of illness. The Mayo Clinic reports that 30 to 35 percent of people over the age of 65 who suffer broken ribs contract pneumonia as a result. But according to Mount Sinai Hospital, there are things that can be done to stop it: “To help prevent a collapsed lung or lung infection, do slow deep-breathing and gentle coughing exercises every 2 hours. Your provider may tell you to use a device called a spirometer to help with the breathing exercises. These exercises help prevent a partial lung collapse and pneumonia.”

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As of Thursday morning, it wasn’t clear how long Ginsburg would remain in the hospital or what recovery will look like. But one thing seems certain: The internet is rooting for a speedy recovery.

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:

• A photo of 85-year-old Ruth Bader Ginsburg planking is going viral after Justice Kennedy’s SCOTUS retirement news

• Washington tribal leader wearing headdress denied access to U.S. Supreme Court hearing on his tribe

• ‘You are our heroes’: 14 men protest outside the Supreme Court, chanting ‘Believe women! Believe survivors!’

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