Wife suffers five broken ribs after husband hugs her, bizarre incident from China goes viral

A woman in Jiangsu, China, suffered five fractured ribs and a hairline fracture in another after her husband hugged her when she complained of feeling cold. The incident, reported by Chinese media outlet Jingshi Live, has drawn attention to osteoporosis, a condition that weakens bones and can make them more vulnerable to fractures.

The woman's husband, surnamed Wang, said he heard a cracking sound while embracing her. She immediately crouched down in pain and was unable to get up. Wang said he had used what he considered normal force and did not expect the hug to cause such serious injuries.

Speaking to Hubei Jingshi Live on October 19, Wang said his wife endured the pain through the night before going to hospital the following morning.


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Woman discharged after doctors diagnose multiple rib fractures

A chest CT scan revealed that five of the woman's ribs were fractured, while another had a hairline fracture. Doctors reportedly determined that she did not require surgery and prescribed medication, medicated patches and rest.

She has since been discharged from hospital and is recovering at home. She must return for follow-up examinations every five days.

Doctors reportedly link injuries to osteoporosis

Wang said doctors attributed the injuries primarily to osteoporosis, which reduces bone strength and increases the risk of fractures.

He said his wife weighed between 45kg and 50kg and regularly followed dieting habits, including skipping dinner. She also drank at least one cup of coffee every day.

According to Wang, she worked at the family's shop, located just a two-to-three-minute drive from their home. She generally covered herself when going outdoors and rarely spent time in the sun.

Sunlight helps the body produce vitamin D, which supports calcium absorption and bone health. After the incident, Wang said his wife had begun spending more time in sunlight and increasing her calcium intake as she focused on recovery.

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Doctor explains why rib fractures from hugs are uncommon

Yan Yanxiang, an associate chief orthopaedic physician at Wuhan Asia Heart General Hospital, told Jingshi Live that rib fractures caused by the force of a hug were uncommon among younger people. He said osteoporosis was likely a contributing factor in this case.

Yan explained that bone health can be affected by lifestyle and dietary habits. He pointed to the woman's limited sunlight exposure and daily coffee consumption, noting that caffeine can promote calcium loss. He also said excessive consumption of strong tea, other detrimental lifestyle habits and steroid medication use could accelerate calcium loss from bones.

However, the report did not establish that the woman's coffee consumption directly caused her osteoporosis.

Yan added that rib fractures generally do not require surgery when there are no complications involving the lungs or pleura, the membrane surrounding the lungs. Potential 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.