Medication
Treating a Clavicle Fracture
- Nonsurgical Treatment for a Clavicle Fracture. An arm sling or wrap is typically worn after the break occurs. ...
- Surgical Treatment for a Clavicle Fracture. Clavicle surgery may be needed if the fractured bones if the fractured pieces of bone are not in their correct, anatomical location.
- Post-surgical Rehabilitation. ...
Procedures
Pain medication: Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and NSAIDs such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) can help reduce collarbone pain and discomfort. Ice or heat: A heat pack, ice-pack or cool washcloth can help with the discomfort associated with minor trauma or overuse injury.
Therapy
While recovering from a broken collarbone you may find it helpful to:
- 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
Self-care
Most clavicle shaft fractures or broken collarbones do not require surgery. Fractures with “significant” displacement or shortening (think 2cm) might benefit from surgery. Most athletes with a clavicle shaft fracture or a broken collarbone will return to sports within a few months – with or without surgery.
Nutrition
What is the appropriate treatment for a clavicular fracture?
How to relieve pain from clavicle fracture?
Should you have surgery for a clavicle fracture?
Do I need surgery for clavicle fracture?
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What is the best treatment for clavicle fracture?
The most common way to treat the fractures in the middle is with immobilization with either a sling or a special bandage called a figure-of-8 splint. Studies have shown that these fractures heal just as quickly and as well with a sling as with the figure-of-8 splint, so we recommend a sling in a majority of cases.
How long does it take to recover from a fractured clavicle?
A broken collarbone, or fractured clavicle, is a common injury. It usually happens after a fall or a blow to the shoulder. It takes about 6 to 8 weeks to heal in adults, and 3 to 6 weeks in children. The collarbone is a long, slender bone that runs from the breastbone to each shoulder.
Can a fractured clavicle heal on its own?
Usually a broken collarbone will heal on its own. You just need to give it time. To help speed the healing, you might get: A splint or brace to keep your shoulder from moving.
How is a clavicle fracture repaired?
If you fracture your clavicle, you might need ORIF to bring your bones back into place and help them heal. During an open reduction, orthopedic surgeons reposition your bone pieces surgically back into their proper alignment.
How serious is a fractured clavicle?
In general, a broken collarbone or clavicle generally heals completely within a few months and usually doesn't cause any serious complications. Even when a broken collarbone is not perfectly aligned, it generally heals well without causing any significant deformity.
How painful is a clavicle fracture?
A broken collarbone can be very painful and can make it hard to move your arm. Many clavicle fractures can be treated by wearing a sling to keep the arm and shoulder from moving while the bone heals. With some clavicle fractures, however, the pieces of bone move far out of place when the injury occurs.
Do clavicle fractures need surgery?
Most clavicle fractures don't need surgery. If the broken parts of the bone are in a good position to heal, healthcare providers may recommend: Arm support: A sling can help you feel more comfortable as you heal. It can also prevent broken parts of bone from moving around.
How long does a broken clavicle take to heal without surgery?
In young children, it will very quickly, four to six weeks. Adults, six to eight weeks, usually, and a small number up to 12 weeks.
When do you need surgery for broken clavicle?
If a clavicle fracture is displaced more than 15 mm (in kids more displacement can be accepted as they are still growing) then I recommend the fracture be treated surgically as the clinical results are better than allowing the fracture to heal in a displaced position.
How long is clavicle surgery?
The surgery usually takes between 45-90 min. Usually, this operation is done as daycare surgery, where you go home the same day as the surgery. What to expect during healing of a Clavicle Fracture: While the bone heals usually within 2-3 months, recovery takes much longer.
How long should I wear a sling for broken collarbone?
You will be given a sling to support your arm; this should be used for 2 to 6 weeks whilst the injury heals. Wear the sling during the day but remove it for exercises and personal hygiene. You can wear it at night time if you find it more comfortable but you don't have to.
Can you move your arm with a broken collarbone?
Your shoulder strength is normal. You can move and use the arm and shoulder without pain. In general, people can go back to noncontact sports (such as running or swimming) in about 6 weeks and contact sports (such as football, lacrosse, and hockey) in 8–12 weeks.
How to treat clavicle soreness?
Apply the crushed ice to your clavicle for 15 minutes three to five times daily until the soreness and inflammation eventually fades away. Lightly compressing the crushed ice against your injury with a stretchy Tensor or Ace bandage is also helpful for combating inflammation.
How long does it take to heal a fractured clavicle?
Healing takes between four to six weeks in younger people and up to 12 weeks in the elderly, but it depends on the severity of the fractured clavicle.
How long does it take for a clavicle to break?
It sometimes takes a week or so until the swelling goes down enough to see the crack clearly. Prepare for surgery in severe cases. Although most fractures of the clavicle are hairline fractures, in some cases the break is serious enough to require surgery — about 5–10% of cases.
Why does the clavicle need to move?
Your clavicle needs to move a little bit during the later phases of the injury to stimulate complete recovery. Complete lack of activity and total immobilization of your arm for many weeks could trigger loss of bone mineral, which is counterproductive for an injured bone trying to get stronger.
What is the clavicle?
The clavicle (commonly called collarbone) is a long, thin bone that connects the breastbone to the shoulder girdle on each side of the upper body. A fractured (broken) collarbone is a pretty common injury, especially in kids, teenagers and younger adults, because the bone doesn't completely mature until around the age of 20.
What is the procedure to realign clavicle?
Surgery involves realigning the bone fragments and keeping them in place with special metal plates, pins and/or screws. The clavicle usually breaks in the middle, as opposed to the ends which attach to the breastbone (sternum) and shoulder blade.
How to know if you have a fractured clavicle?
Get medical help immediately. If you fall on an outstretched arm, get into a car accident or are hit while playing a sport and feel intense pain in your shoulder area, then get medical care immediately. Fractured clavicles cause significant pain in the front part of your shoulder, closer to the base of your neck. You'll innately know that something is seriously wrong because you won't be able to lift your arm up. Other symptoms include immediate swelling and/or bruising near the fracture, grinding sounds with arm movements and potential numbness and tingling in the arm/hand. Your doctor will likely have to give you strong prescription pain medication to cope with the injury.
What is the most common fracture of the clavicle?
Contraindications. When to Have Surgery. Complications. Clavicle fractures, or broken collarbones, are among the most common broken bones that occur. They represent about 5% of all broken bones and are especially common in younger, more active adults. 1 Most fractures of the clavicle occur in the central portion of the collarbone.
Why do people with clavicle fractures have a hard time using their arms?
People with a clavicle fracture have a hard time using their arms because the movement causes pain at the site of the fracture. Your doctor will X-ray the clavicle to determine if a fracture is present and to determine the most appropriate treatment.
What causes numbness under collarbone?
Nerve Injury. Major nerve damage is very uncommon, but the skin nerves that provide sensation just below the collarbone are often damaged at the time of surgery. 6 Many people who have clavicle fracture surgery notice a patch of numbness or tingling just under their incision.
What is the clavicle?
The clavicle is the bone in the front of the chest on top of the rib cage. The clavicle is important in helping to support normal shoulder function and is the attachment point for several important muscles including the deltoid and pectoralis muscles .
Can a clavicle fracture be treated without surgery?
Most clavicle fractures can be treated without surgery. For the vast majority of clavicle fractures that are not out of place, or only minimally out of place, the safest and most effective treatment is with the use of a sling.
Can clavicle fractures be treated surgically?
For many decades, the results of nonsurgical treatment found that the majority of clavicle fractures healed more reliably with less of a complication rate when compared to clavicle fractures treated with surgery. More recently, however, several studies have questioned if more clavicle fractures should be treated surgically.
Is clavicle surgery worse than the original injury?
A complication of surgery can be worse than the original injury, and while these complications may be uncommon, there might not be a reason to take the risk. Secondly, surgical hardware used to repair a clavicle fracture often has to be removed at some point down the road.
Nonsurgical Treatment
Bone fractures generally take six to eight weeks to heal, though the pain from a clavicle fracture subsides after two to three weeks. Patients need to use a brace or sling for several weeks, even after the pain lessens, until a doctor says it's safe to discontinue its use.
Surgical Treatment
Surgery is the best option if the clavicle's broken ends are pushing on the skin, if the ends are significantly overlapping, or if the ends are widely displaced. Surgery consists of repositioning the fragments and securing them in place with a plate and screws.
What is the best treatment for a broken clavicle?
Nonsurgical treatment for a broken clavicle can include the following: An arm sling or wrap is typically worn after the break occurs. This helps prevent arm movement as the collarbone recovers. Pain medication, typically nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as naproxen and ibuprofen, can be taken to reduce pain.
How to heal a broken clavicle?
Nonsurgical treatment for a broken clavicle can include the following: 1 An arm sling or wrap is typically worn after the break occurs. This helps prevent arm movement as the collarbone recovers. 2 Pain medication, typically nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as naproxen and ibuprofen, can be taken to reduce pain. 3 Physical therapy exercises will be recommended once the collarbone begins to mend. The patient will begin with mild movements to ease stiffness. More intense exercises will be added after the bone recovers.
How long after clavicle break can you play sports?
Generally, normal activity can be resumed 6 weeks after the clavicle break, but participation in contact sports should be postponed for 2 to 4 months. This provides time for the bones to heal. Healing may be slower in people who have diabetes or who use tobacco-based products, since nicotine inhibits bone healing.
What is clavicle surgery?
Clavicle surgery may be needed if the fractured bones if the fractured pieces of bone are not in their correct, anatomical location. (The medical term for this is a displaced fracture). In these cases, the bones need to be moved and secured in order to heal properly. Plates, screws, and pins are often used during the surgical process. Rehabilitation after surgery involves exercises that can be done at home or with a physical therapist.
How to reduce swelling after shoulder surgery?
Icing shoulder several times a day to reduce swelling. Wrap the ice pack in a towel or cloth to prevent ice burn. Restraining from lifting objects weighing over five pounds during the first six weeks post-surgery. Following up with the physician and getting the appropriate x-rays to confirm healing.
What to do if you think you broke your clavicle?
If you think you’ve broken your clavicle, seek immediate medical attention. A healthcare provider will: Ask you to describe what happened. Examine the area. Take X-rays of the injured area to confirm a broken bone. X-rays can also show exactly where the break is, how bad it is and whether any other bones broke.
What is clavicle fracture?
A note from Cleveland Clinic. A clavicle fracture is a break in the collarbone that’s often painful. Most people don’t need surgery, but some require an operation to put the pieces of bone back in place. Physical therapy is important to get you back to daily activities.
What is a broken collarbone?
Broken Collarbone (Clavicle Fracture) A clavicle fracture is a break in the collarbone. You have two clavicles, each connecting a shoulder to the upper chest. Broken collarbones are common, often happening from a fall, sports injury or car accident. Although a broken clavicle is painful, most people don’t need surgery.
How long does it take for a collarbone fracture to heal?
Most collarbone fractures heal in six to eight weeks, without surgery or complications. Most people are able to start getting back to normal activities by three months or so, but full recovery may take up to six to 12 months. You may feel a bump where the fracture healed.
How many clavicles are there in the human body?
You have two clavicles — long, slender, S-shaped bones connecting the shoulders to the upper chest. Broken collarbones are common, making up about 5% of all adult bone fractures.
What is the procedure to fix a broken collarbone?
Pieces of broken collarbone are not in a good position to heal. Surgery to treat a clavicle fracture is called open reduction and internal fixation. The operation puts broken pieces of collarbone back where they belong (reduction). It then uses metal devices to keep the pieces in place (fixation).
How long does it take to recover from a broken clavicle?
In general, recovery is similar to treating a broken clavicle without surgery with return to normal activity around three months or so and full recovery up to six to 12 months after surgery. While your break heals, you should follow-up with your surgeon or other healthcare provider to make sure you don’t have complications.
What is a clavicle fracture?
video. A clavicle fracture is a break in the collarbone, one of the main bones in the shoulder. This type of fracture is fairly common—accounting for about 5 percent of all adult fractures. Most clavicle fractures occur when a fall onto the shoulder or an outstretched arm puts enough pressure on the bone that it snaps or breaks.
What is it called when a clavicle fracture moves out of place?
It is important to follow up with your doctor as scheduled to make sure the bone stays in position. If the fracture fragments do move out of place and the bones heal in that position, it is called a "malunion. ".
What is the best way to check for shoulder fractures?
He or she may also order x-rays of your entire shoulder to check for additional injuries. If other bones are broken, your doctor may order a computerized tomography (CT) scan to see the fractures in better detail. X-ray shows a fracture in the middle of the clavicle.
How are bone fragments held in place?
After being repositioned into their normal alignment, the bone fragments are held in place with special screws and metal plates attached to the outer surface of the bone.
Where do clavicle fractures occur?
Clavicle fractures are fairly common and occur in people of all ages. Most fractures occur in the middle portion, or shaft, of the bone. Occasionally, the bone will break where it attaches at the ribcage or shoulder blade.
Where is the clavicle located?
The clavicle is located between the ribcage (sternum) and the shoulder blade (scapula). It is the bone that connects the arm to the body. The clavicle lies above several important nerves and blood vessels. However, these vital structures are rarely injured when a fracture occurs.
How to tell if you broke your arm?
Other signs and symptoms of a fracture may include: Sagging of the shoulder downward and forward. Inability to lift the arm because of pain. A grinding sensation when you try to raise the arm. A deformity or "bump" over the break. Bruising, swelling, and/or tenderness over the collarbone. To Top.
What is a clavicle fracture?
Clavicle Fracture. A clavicle fracture, aka broken collar bone, is a common injury usually caused a fall, direct blow or car accident. Broken collarbones are most common in children in young adults. The collar bone is the most commonly fractured bone in the body. Whilst they may be very painful, clavicle injuries are rarely serious ...
How long does it take for a clavicle fracture to heal?
Clavicle Fracture Recovery. It usually takes 3-6 weeks in children and 6-12 weeks in adults for the bone to fully heal. It takes about twice as long to regain full function. Most people make a full recovery within three months, at which point it is safe to return to contact sports.
What causes collar bone pain?
To find out about fractures of other parts of the shoulder region, visit the shoulder fractures section. Clavicle fractures are the most common cause of collar bone pain but there are a number of other things that can cause pain in this area. Visit the Collar Bone Pain section to find out more.
What is the most common bone fracture in the body?
The collar bone is the most commonly fractured bone in the body. Whilst they may be very painful, clavicle injuries are rarely serious and in most cases are managed conservatively with a sling rather than requiring surgery. Clavicle fractures are the most common cause of collar bone pain.
How to tell if clavicle bone is broken?
Symptoms Of A Broken Collar Bone. The most common symptoms of a clavicle fracture include: Noise: Clavicle fractures are often accompanied by a “snapping” or “grinding” noise. Pain: there may be immediate sharp pain at the time of injury which should settle to a dull ache.
How to heal a broken arm?
Sling. The arm will be immobilised in a sling to hold the arm in place, giving the bone time to heal by laying down new bone (ossification) to re-join the broken sections. Either a simple triangle sling or a figure of eight sling (that wraps around both shoulders and the neck to hold the shoulders back) will be used.
Why do babies have broken collarbones?
During birth: particularly with breech babies. Broken collarbones are often caused by contact sports such as football, wrestling, ice hockey and rugby, winter sports such as skiing and snowboarding and cycling ( particularly mountain biking). Children may fracture their collarbone when playing or falling out of bed.
Treatment
Function
Signs and symptoms
Diagnosis
Specialist to consult
Risks
Prognosis
- The clavicle is the bone in the front of the chest on top of the rib cage. The clavicle is important in helping to support normal shoulder function and is the attachment point for several important muscles including the deltoid and pectoralis muscles.
Symptoms
- People sustain clavicle fractures from a variety of injuries ranging from falls, automobile accidents, sports injuries, and other traumatic injuries. When a clavicle fracture occurs, it is common to have pain and swelling at the site of the injury. People can often see a deformity of the bone, especially soon after the injury before swelling has worsened.