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.
I’m also writing to let you know of the brilliant discovery my wife’s child obtained viewing your webblog. She mastered so many issues, which included how it is like to have an ideal giving style to have the rest without problems fully understand selected complicated matters. You undoubtedly did more than people’s desires. Thank you for imparting such informative, healthy, educational not to mention cool tips on this topic to Ethel.
Thank you so much for giving everyone remarkably splendid opportunity to check tips from this web site. It is usually very excellent and as well , packed with a good time for me and my office acquaintances to search the blog at minimum 3 times a week to see the latest guidance you will have. And of course, I’m just actually contented concerning the attractive suggestions you give. Some 1 points in this posting are surely the most suitable we have all had.
Hello, Neat post. There is an issue with your website in internet explorer, would check this¡K IE still is the marketplace leader and a large section of people will leave out your magnificent writing because of this problem.
Hi my family member! I wish to say that this article is awesome, great written and include approximately all vital infos. I would like to peer more posts like this .
Very good written article. It will be supportive to anybody who employess it, as well as myself. Keep up the good work – can’r wait to read more posts.
I am very happy to read this. This is the type of manual that needs to be given and not the accidental misinformation that’s at the other blogs. Appreciate your sharing this greatest doc.
As a Newbie, I am continuously exploring online for articles that can be of assistance to me. Thank you
Fantastic beat ! I would like to apprentice while you amend your site, how could i subscribe for a blog site? The account helped me a acceptable deal. I had been tiny bit acquainted of this your broadcast offered bright clear idea
I in addition to my guys were looking at the great ideas from your website and so all of the sudden came up with an awful suspicion I had not expressed respect to the site owner for those strategies. Most of the women became certainly warmed to see them and have in truth been making the most of these things. Many thanks for simply being considerably accommodating and for utilizing this sort of really good issues most people are really wanting to understand about. My honest apologies for not expressing gratitude to you earlier.
Hiya, I am really glad I have found this info. Nowadays bloggers publish only about gossips and web and this is actually annoying. A good site with interesting content, that is what I need. Thank you for keeping this site, I will be visiting it. Do you do newsletters? Can not find it.
Attractive section of content. I just stumbled upon your weblog and in accession capital to assert that I acquire actually enjoyed account your blog posts. Any way I will be subscribing to your feeds and even I achievement you access consistently quickly.
I really appreciate this post. I have been looking everywhere for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You have made my day! Thx again
I’m really impressed with your writing skills and also with the layout on your weblog. Is this a paid theme or did you customize it yourself? Either way keep up the excellent quality writing, it’s rare to see a great blog like this one today..
Simply want to say your article is as surprising. The clearness in your post is simply great and i can assume you’re an expert on this subject. Well with your permission allow me to grab your feed to keep updated with forthcoming post. Thanks a million and please carry on the enjoyable work.
Wonderful beat ! I wish to apprentice while you amend your website, how can i subscribe for a blog web site? The account aided me a acceptable deal. I had been tiny bit acquainted of this your broadcast provided bright clear concept
Keep working ,terrific job!
I am constantly searching online for posts that can aid me. Thank you!
I conceive this site holds some really fantastic information for everyone. “A man’s dreams are an index to his greatness.” by Zadok Rabinwitz.
Wow! This can be one particular of the most helpful blogs We have ever arrive across on this subject. Actually Fantastic. I’m also a specialist in this topic therefore I can understand your effort.
Hi there, I discovered your site by way of Google even as looking for a similar topic, your web site got here up, it seems good. I’ve bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.