病理生理学尚不明确,但是会导致肋软骨炎症。[1]Fam AG, Smythe HA. Musculoskeletal chest wall pain. CMAJ. 1985;133:379-389.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1346531/pdf/canmedaj00268-0035.pdfhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/4027804?tool=bestpractice.com
软骨的血液供应相对较差,使用抗生素治疗感染性肋软骨炎通常无效。[9]Ontell FK, Moore EH, Shepard JO, et al. The costal cartilages in health and disease. Radiographics. 1997;17:571-577.http://pubs.rsna.org/doi/abs/10.1148/radiographics.17.3.9153697?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%3dpubmedhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9153697?tool=bestpractice.com