There are numerous causes of a stabbing or sharp pain in or around the sternum, or breastbone. According to the Mayo Clinic website, chest pain is one of the most common complaints among people who call for emergency medical assistance. Chest pain is pain that occurs anywhere between the shoulders and abdomen. Chest pain can be dull and achy or it can be sharp and stabbing, depending on the cause and the tissues involved.
Pleurisy
Pleurisy can cause a sharp or stabbing pain in or around the sternum. According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute--or NHLBI, a division of the National Institutes of Health--pleurisy is an inflammation of the pleura. The pleura is a membrane composed of two tissue layers. One layer envelops the lungs while the other layer covers the inside of the chest wall. The tiny space between the two layers of pleura is called the pleural space, which contains approximately 4 tsp. of fluid. The fluid allows the pleural layers to slide over each other without friction during breathing. Pleurisy manifests when the pleural layers become irritated or inflamed. The rubbing together of the two layers when breathing can cause sharp pain, notes the NHLBI, although there is little pain between breaths. Pleurisy-related pain is made worse by coughing, sneezing or breathing deeply. One of the most common causes of pleurisy is a viral infection. Pneumonia and tuberculosis can also cause pleurisy.
Myocardial Infarction
A myocardial infarction can cause a sharp or stabbing pain in or around the sternum. The U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health state that a myocardial infarction, also known as a heart attack, occurs when coronary arteries--the arteries that bring blood to the heart itself--become blocked or occluded. Without sufficient blood and oxygen, part of the heart may die or become irreversibly damaged. Common signs and symptoms associated with a myocardial infarction include the following: center-left chest pain that's sharp or stabbing, pain in the arms, shoulders, neck, teeth, jaw, stomach and back, dyspnea or shortness of breath, sweating and anxiety. According to the NIH, myocardial infarction-related chest pain can mimic the pain associated with indigestion. It can also feel like a squeezing pain or heaviness, as though there is a heavy object on the chest.
Fractured Sternum
A fractured or broken sternum can cause a sharp or stabbing pain, especially with deep breathing. According to the Free M.D. website, a fractured sternum, also known as a broken breastbone, is usually caused by high-energy trauma, such as during a motor vehicle accident. Most automobile-related sternum fractures are caused by a person's chest forcefully striking the steering wheel. Common signs and symptoms associated with a fractured sternum include the following: sharp or stabbing chest pain over the center of the chest, chest pain that's worse with movement or a deep breath, bruising, swelling and tenderness in the affected area and an observable chest deformity. Because sternal fractures are often caused by high-force accidents, there may be other co-existing injuries, such as heart and lung damage, head and abdominal injuries and vertebrae fractures.
