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.
Awesome post. I’m a regular visitor of your blog and appreciate you taking the time to maintain the excellent site. I will be a regular visitor for a long time.
I simply want to tell you that I am just beginner to weblog and actually loved you’re page. Most likely I’m likely to bookmark your blog post . You surely come with impressive posts. Thank you for revealing your website page.
Awesome write-up. I am a normal visitor of your site and appreciate you taking the time to maintain the excellent site. I’ll be a frequent visitor for a long time.
http://web2concepts.com
Somebody necessarily assist to make critically posts I’d state. This is the very first time I frequented your web page and up to now? I amazed with the analysis you made to create this particular publish incredible. Great task!
I like what you guys are up also. Such smart work and reporting! Carry on the superb works guys I have incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it will improve the value of my web site 🙂
Awesome write-up. I am a regular visitor of your blog and appreciate you taking the time to maintain the excellent site. I’ll be a frequent visitor for a long time.
Hello there. I discovered your web site by way of Google whilst looking for a comparable subject, your site came up. It looks good. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks to come back then.
Hello there. I found your website via Google at the same time as looking for a comparable topic, your site got here up. It seems to be great. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks to visit then.
Hi there. I found your blog by means of Google even as searching for a related topic, your site came up. It appears good. I’ve bookmarked it in my google bookmarks to come back then.
I have read a few just right stuff here. Certainly worth bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how a lot attempt you place to make any such great informative website.
We have the most attractive masseuses, just for you. See them and choose one! For our exceptional services, the quality / price has always been excellent.
Your site bdisus doesn’t render appropriately on my apple iphone – you may want to try and fix that
Hello there. I found your website by means of Google even as searching for a comparable subject, your site came up. It seems to be good. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks to visit then.
excellent issues altogether, you simply received a emblem new reader. What might you suggest in regards to your put up that you simply made some days ago? Any positive?|
Awesome write-up. I’m a regular visitor of your site and appreciate you taking the time to maintain the nice site. I’ll be a frequent visitor for a really long time.
This is my first time go to see at here and i am actually impressed to read all at alone place.|
After I originally left a comment I appear to have clicked on the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and from now on whenever a comment is added I receive four emails with the same comment. Is there a means you are able to remove me from that service? Many thanks!
Hiya, I’m really glad I’ve found this information. Today bloggers publish just about gossip and net stuff and this is really frustrating. A good site with interesting content, this is what I need. Thanks for making this web site, and I’ll be visiting again. Do you do newsletters by email?
Hello there. I discovered your site by way of Google while searching for a similar topic, your website got here up. It appears to be great. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks to visit then.