All You Need To Know About Clavicle Fractures
Your clavicle, or “collarbone”, plays an important role in the positioning and function of your arm. It is the main connection of your shoulder girdle to the rest of your body. Because of the collarbone’s length and vulnerable location lying just under the skin of the shoulder, it is often at risk for injury. Clavicle fractures are some of the most common fractures treated by orthopaedic doctors. Of note, the clavicle is the last bone in the body to stop growing – often at up to 25 years of age. As a result of this prolonged growth, the clavicle has excellent healing potential, and most clavicle fractures can be treated non-operatively by simply allowing the bones to mend. However, there are some types of clavicle fractures that are best treated surgically. The clavicle is critical in providing length and contour to the shoulder which allows muscles around the shoulder girdle to function effectively. Fractures that cause significant shortening or mal-alignment of the clavicle can cause weakness in the shoulder or risk of “nonunion” or incomplete healing of the fracture leading to chronic pain.
Risk Factors for Clavicle Fractures
- Falls – either directly on the shoulder or onto an outstretched hand attempting to “break the fall.”
- Direct blow – any forceful blow to the clavicle (i.e. – falling object, lacrosse stick) can cause a fracture due to the little muscle or soft tissue protection to the bone.
- Osteoporosis, or low bone quality
Symptoms of Clavicle Fractures
- Difficulty moving one or both arms. It may be impossible to raise the arm at all and attempts may cause a grinding or crackling noise.
- There may be some pain emanating from the site of the break, even without moving.
- A swollen bump above the site of the break. May be visible beneath skin.
- Swelling and bruising of the clavicle.
- A sagging or hanging shoulder.
Treatment of Clavicle Fractures
- A clavicle fracture is treated differently dependent upon how severe the break is and where it is broken. The clavicle most often breaks cleanly in the middle. This type of fracture usually heals within 6-8 weeks and is treated by:
- Sling to immobilize and support the arm during healing.
- Pain medication to reduce any pain the person is experiencing.
- Ice to limit swelling and help with the pain.
- Physical therapy after healing or towards the end of healing to help regain full motion and strengthen surrounding muscles.
- Surgery is reserved for patients with significant separation of the bone ends, shortening of the bone due to overlap of the fracture ends, and fractures creating multiple pieces. These types of injuries are at risk to heal in positions that limit full shoulder function, or are at risk of not healing which causes significant pain with attempts at using the arm.
- If you have sustained a clavicle injury, it is best to seek consultation with a orthopaedic specialist to review the nature of the injury and determine the best course of treatment in order to maximize your outcome from this very common injury.
In the grand scheme of things you actually receive an A+ with regard to hard work. Where exactly you actually lost me ended up being on your particulars. As people say, details make or break the argument.. And that couldn’t be more true at this point. Having said that, permit me inform you just what exactly did do the job. Your authoring is certainly rather persuasive and this is possibly why I am making an effort in order to opine. I do not really make it a regular habit of doing that. Next, even though I can certainly notice the jumps in logic you make, I am not really convinced of exactly how you seem to unite the points which inturn help to make your conclusion. For now I will subscribe to your point but trust in the near future you actually connect your facts much better.
Really enjoyed this blog post, how can I make is so that I get an alert email whenever you publish a fresh update?
I simply want to say I am just all new to blogging and really savored this web page. Most likely I’m planning to bookmark your website . You amazingly have remarkable articles and reviews. Many thanks for revealing your website.
I simply want to mention I am just new to weblog and seriously savored you’re web page. Most likely I’m want to bookmark your website . You absolutely have amazing stories. Many thanks for sharing with us your blog.
I just want to say I am very new to weblog and truly loved you’re web blog. Most likely I’m likely to bookmark your website . You really have amazing writings. Thanks a lot for sharing your web-site.
I simply want to tell you that I’m very new to blogging and site-building and honestly loved this website. More than likely I’m likely to bookmark your blog post . You certainly come with really good posts. Thank you for sharing with us your webpage.
I just want to say I am all new to blogs and certainly loved this blog site. Probably I’m going to bookmark your blog . You certainly have incredible articles. Many thanks for sharing with us your website.
I simply want to say I am just all new to blogs and honestly loved you’re blog. Probably I’m going to bookmark your site . You certainly have awesome posts. Kudos for revealing your website page.
I just want to say I’m all new to weblog and definitely liked your blog. More than likely I’m want to bookmark your website . You definitely have tremendous well written articles. Thanks a bunch for sharing your blog site.
Great post. I was checking constantly this blog and I am impressed! Very helpful information specifically the last part 🙂 I care for such info a lot. I was looking for this particular info for a long time. Thank you and good luck.
Great amazing things here. I am very happy to look your article. Thank you a lot and i’m having a look ahead to contact you. Will you please drop me a e-mail?
I have been exploring for a little for any high quality articles or blog posts in this sort of space . Exploring in Yahoo I ultimately stumbled upon this web site. Studying this information So i am glad to express that I’ve an incredibly excellent uncanny feeling I found out just what I needed. I most without a doubt will make certain to do not overlook this website and provides it a look regularly.
I am not sure where you’re getting your info, but good topic. I needs to spend some time learning more or understanding more. Thanks for fantastic info I was looking for this info for my mission.
Heya i am for the first time here. I came across this board and I find It truly useful & it helped me out a lot. I hope to give something back and aid others like you helped me.
Hello, you used to write great, but the last several posts have been kinda boring¡K I miss your great writings. Past few posts are just a bit out of track! come on!
Needed to send you the very small observation to help say thank you the moment again for the splendid basics you’ve shown here. It’s so open-handed with people like you to present openly all that many of us would have offered as an ebook to get some money for their own end, specifically considering the fact that you could have tried it in case you wanted. Those tricks in addition worked to be the good way to comprehend the rest have the identical keenness similar to my personal own to know a lot more related to this condition. I think there are a lot more pleasant periods ahead for individuals who check out your website.
I and also my guys came studying the excellent guides found on your web page and all of a sudden I had a terrible feeling I had not expressed respect to the blog owner for those secrets. These young men were definitely consequently excited to study them and have surely been taking pleasure in them. Appreciate your indeed being considerably helpful as well as for pick out these kinds of quality issues millions of individuals are really wanting to discover. My sincere regret for not saying thanks to earlier.
Great article and straight to the point. I am not sure if this is in fact the best place to ask but do you guys have any thoughts on where to employ some professional writers? Thanks in advance 🙂
I savour, result in I found just what I used to be having a look for. You have ended my four day lengthy hunt! God Bless you man. Have a great day. Bye
Thank you so much for giving everyone such a special chance to read in detail from this web site. It can be so pleasant plus stuffed with a good time for me and my office friends to search your site really three times per week to find out the new things you will have. And definitely, we’re usually satisfied for the mind-boggling ideas served by you. Some 1 points on this page are rather the finest we’ve ever had.