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.
Superb, what a webpage it is! This blog provides valuable data to us, keep it up.|
hello there and thank you for your info – I’ve definitely picked up something new from right here. I did however expertise several technical issues using this site, as I experienced to reload the site lots of times previous to I could get it to load properly. I had been wondering if your hosting is OK? Not that I’m complaining, but slow loading instances times will sometimes affect your placement in google and could damage your quality score if advertising and marketing with Adwords. Anyway I’m adding this RSS to my e-mail and can look out for much more of your respective fascinating content. Make sure you update this again very soon.|
I’m really impressed with your writing skills and also with the format for your weblog. Is this a paid subject matter or did you customize it yourself? Anyway stay up the excellent quality writing, it’s rare to see a nice weblog like this one today..|
I would like to thank you for the efforts you have put in writing this web site. I’m hoping the same high-grade web site post from you in the upcoming also. Actually your creative writing skills has encouraged me to get my own blog now. Actually the blogging is spreading its wings fast. Your write up is a good example of it.
I do trust all of the ideas you’ve introduced to your post. They’re really convincing and will definitely work. Nonetheless, the posts are too brief for newbies. May just you please prolong them a bit from subsequent time? Thank you for the post.
I have not checked in here for a while since I thought it was getting boring, but the last several posts are good quality so I guess I will add you back to my daily bloglist. You deserve it my friend 🙂
Hello, Neat post. There’s an issue together with your website in internet explorer, could check this? IE nonetheless is the market leader and a good part of people will pass over your great writing because of this problem.|
I am continually invstigating online for posts that can benefit me. Thank you!
Someone necessarily assist to make severely articles I’d state. That is the first time I frequented your web page and thus far? I surprised with the research you made to create this particular submit amazing. Excellent job!
Its like you read my mind! You seem to know so much about this, like you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you could do with a few pics to drive the message home a bit, but other than that, this is fantastic blog. A fantastic read. I will certainly be back.
You could definitely see your expertise within the work you write. The sector hopes for more passionate writers like you who are not afraid to say how they believe. Always go after your heart.|
Excellent beat ! I wish to apprentice while you amend your web site, how can i subscribe for a blog website? The account helped me a acceptable deal. I had been tiny bit acquainted of this your broadcast offered bright clear concept|
If some one desires to be updated with latest technologies afterward he must be go to see this website and be up to date everyday.|
I have been checking out some of your posts and it’s pretty nice stuff. I will make sure to bookmark your site.
hello there and thank you for your info – I’ve definitely picked up anything new from right here. I did however expertise several technical points using this web site, as I experienced to reload the website a lot of times previous to I could get it to load properly. I had been wondering if your web hosting is OK? Not that I’m complaining, but sluggish loading instances times will very frequently affect your placement in google and could damage your high-quality score if ads and marketing with Adwords. Well I’m adding this RSS to my email and can look out for much more of your respective fascinating content. Make sure you update this again soon..
certainly like your web-site but you have to test the spelling on quite a few of your posts. A number of them are rife with spelling issues and I in finding it very bothersome to tell the truth then again I will certainly come back again.
I haven¡¦t checked in here for a while because I thought it was getting boring, but the last few posts are good quality so I guess I will add you back to my daily bloglist. You deserve it my friend 🙂
You are a very intelligent person!
Wow! This could be one particular of the most helpful blogs We have ever arrive across on this subject. Basically Magnificent. I am also an expert in this topic so I can understand your hard work.
Very well written article. It will be useful to anyone who employess it, as well as yours truly :). Keep doing what you are doing – can’r wait to read more posts.