Type of sling used does not seem to affect the results as far as healing is concerned but patient satisfaction is lower with the figure-of-eight bandage. Accessed Sept. 30, 2015. There is numbness or weakness in the hand or arm. Depending on severity of the fracture, athletes involved in contact sports may need a longer period of rest to heal to avoid refracturing bone. ", Johns Hopkins Medicine: "Patient Guide to Clavicle (Collarbone) Fracture.". During this period, patients may remove the sling to practice passive pendulum range of motion exercises to reduce atrophy in the elbow and shoulder, but they are often minimized to 15–20° off vertical. A direct hit to the collarbone can also cause a break. Clavicles are the most commonly broken bone in the human body. The ligaments involved include the conoid ligament and trapezoid ligament. Try to move your arm as little as possible. It takes about 6 to 8 weeks to heal in adults, and 3 to 6 weeks in children. While recovering from a broken collarbone you may find it helpful to: Page last reviewed: 20 March 2020 Fixing the break with a plate and screws is the most common method. The collarbone is a long slender bone that connects your arms to your body.It runs horizontally between the top of your breastbone and shoulder blades ().Broken collarbones … [1][4], Clavicle fractures most commonly occur in people under the age of 25 and those over the age of 70. [12], Surgery may be considered when one or more of the following is presents. The primary indication is pain relief. From shop BlockMerch. See your GP if you have any concerns before this appointment. Usually a broken collarbone will heal on its own. A bag of frozen peas wrapped in a tea towel works well. For adults, one to several weeks of sling immobilization is normally employed to allow for pain relief, initial bone and soft tissue healing; teenagers require slightly less, while children can often achieve the same level in two weeks. If the doctor wants a more detailed look, they might do a CT scan, which uses a series of X-rays to make a picture of the area. Rouzier, P. The Sports Medicine Patient Advisor, second edition, SportsMed Press, 2004. Next review due: 20 March 2023, swelling or tenderness around the injured area, bleeding if the bone has damaged the tissue and skin (this is rare), use extra pillows at night to keep yourself more upright if you find sleeping uncomfortable, use ice packs and painkillers if pain and swelling continues while your arm is in a sling, move your elbow, hand and fingers regularly as soon as it's comfortable to do so, remove the sling for short periods of time if it is not too painful (when you think the fracture has started to heal), do not play contact sports for at least 10 to 12 weeks after the injury – your doctor will tell you when you can go back to work and resume normal activities. You just need to give it time. These will help reduce stiffness, relieve some of the pain, and strengthen your shoulder muscles. In some cases, if other bones are broken or if the doctor needs to see the fracture in greater detail, a computerized tomography (CT) scan will be performed. Typical surgical complications are infection, neurological symptoms distal the incision (sometimes to the extremity), and nonunion of the bone (failure of the bone to properly fuse together). The collarbone is a long, slender bone that runs from the breastbone to each shoulder. The collarbone, or clavicle, is a long and thin bone that runs between the sternum and shoulder blade. An alternative to plate fixation is elastic TEN intramedullary nailing. Restricting the movement of any broken bone is critical to healing. Usually, therapy will start with gentle motion exercises, and strengthening exercises will be added as the bone heals. McKee-Garrett TM. In more severe cases, a computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan is taken. Traditionally, these fractures have been treated nonsurgically. While waiting to see a doctor, stabilise your arm using a towel as a sling – this goes under the forearm and then around the neck. It might take a few weeks to months for a broken collarbone to heal. Hold the arm close to the body with the other arm or a sling with the hand raised higher than the elbow. The adductor muscles of the arm, such as the pectoralis major, may pull the distal fragment medially, causing the bone fragments to override. Incidents that may lead to a clavicle fracture include automobile accidents, biking accidents (especially common in mountain biking), horizontal falls on the shoulder joint, or contact sports such as football, rugby, hurling, or wrestling. [1] It can take up to five months for the strength of the bone to return to normal. Other symptoms include: To diagnose a collarbone fracture, a doctor will ask about the injury and what symptoms your child has. If you cannot see a GP go to your nearest minor injury unit or walk-in Centre or call NHS 111 for advice. Your collarbone (or clavicle) is the bone that runs horizontally between the top of your breastbone (sternum ) and shoulder blade (scapula). The part of the clavicle near the center of the body is tilted upwards by the sternocleidomastoid muscle. The two most common types of fixation are the figure-of-eight splint that wraps the shoulders to keep them forced back and a simple sling, often called collar 'n' cuff. A broken collarbone, or fractured clavicle, is a common injury. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. Compound fractures, where the broken bone pierces the skin, require immediate, aggressive treatment to reduce the risk of an infection. Depending on the severity of the break, your family doctor or the emergency room physician may recommend that you or your child see an orthopedic surgeon. Choose well-fitting, sports-appropriate footwear that helps you keep your balance. X-rays determine the extent of a broken collarbone, pinpoint its location and determine if there's injury to the joints. Healing time varies based on age, health, complexity, and location of the break, as well as the bone displacement. This should be discussed with your surgeon. [2], Clavicle fractures are typically treated by putting the arm in a sling for one or two weeks. Depending on the severity of fracture, a person can begin to use the arm if comfortable with movement and no pain results. [16], When, then, a [clavicle] fracture has recently taken place, the patients attach much importance to it, as supposing the mischief greater than it really is, and the physicians bestow great pains in order that it may be properly bandaged; but in a little time the patients, having no pain, nor finding any impediment to their walking or eating, become negligent; and the physicians finding they cannot make the parts look well, take themselves off, and are not sorry at the neglect of the patient, and in the meantime the callus is quickly formed. Make sure your kids wear all the recommended protective gear needed for sports, and help them to learn the proper techniques. Reviewed by: Alfred Atanda Jr., MD A broken collarbone, or fractured clavicle, is a common injury. Clavicle fractures. The doctor has taken an X-ray and confirmed that the break is healed. Most collarbone fractures will heal on their own if the arm is properly immobilized in a sling and the injury is treated with ice and physical therapy. "[18], CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (, "Clavicle Fracture (Broken Collarbone)-OrthoInfo - AAOS", "Surgical versus conservative interventions for treating fractures of the middle third of the clavicle", "Conservative interventions for treating middle third clavicle fractures in adolescents and adults", "Is shortening of displaced midshaft clavicle fractures associated with inferior clinical outcomes following nonoperative management? The most common type of fracture occurs when a person falls horizontally on the shoulder or with an outstretched hand. Eat a well-balanced diet full of veggies and foods rich in calcium and vitamin D to build strong bones. In most cases, it's important to begin some motion to minimize stiffness in your shoulder while you're still wearing your sling. A clavicle fracture is diagnosed through a physical examination and X-rays. Painkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, can help reduce the pain. There may also be: Your shoulder may be slumped downwards and forwards under the weight of the arm, as the broken collarbone is no longer providing support. All rights reserved. It is unclear if surgery or conservative management is superior.[6]. More recently, however, several studies have questioned if more clavicle fractures should be treated surgically. Due to the curved shape in a tilted plane X-rays are typically oriented with ~15° upwards facing tilt from the front. You can feel your collarbone by touching the area between your neck and your shoulder. See how we're providing safe in-person care and virtual visits, Review the latest COVID-19 resources and research advancements, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development, Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education, Book: Mayo Clinic Family Health Book, 5th Edition, Newsletter: Mayo Clinic Health Letter — Digital Edition, FREE book offer – Mayo Clinic Health Letter. Complications can include a collection of air in the pleural space surrounding the lung (pneumothorax), injury to the nerves or blood vessels in the area, and an unpleasant appearance. A broken collarbone is usually pretty obvious.

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