In a patient with rib fractures and respiratory distress, what physical finding indicates the presence of subcutaneous air?

The presence of subcutaneous crepitus is a hallmark physical finding that indicates the presence of subcutaneous air, often associated with pneumothorax or traumatic injury that allows air to escape from the lungs or airways into the surrounding tissues. This crepitus can be felt as a bubbling or crackling sensation beneath the skin when palpated, typically due to air trapped in the subcutaneous tissue.

In a patient with rib fractures, this finding is particularly significant because it may suggest that there is a breach of the respiratory system, possibly due to a fractured rib puncturing the pleura or leading to significant lung injury. Subcutaneous crepitus typically occurs in the context of air leaking into the soft tissues, and its detection is crucial for prompt diagnosis and management of underlying conditions.

The other findings listed, such as a succussion splash, expiratory stridor, and bronchophony, are indicative of different pathological processes and do not specifically suggest the presence of subcutaneous air. For instance, a succussion splash is related to the presence of fluid in the gastrointestinal tract, expiratory stridor indicates upper airway obstruction, and bronchophony is an abnormal lung sound associated with consolidation in lung tissue, none of which directly correlate to the subcutaneous