What are the symptoms of a broken collarbone. How long does it take for a broken collarbone to heal. What treatments are available for a broken collarbone. How can you prevent a broken collarbone.

Understanding Collarbone Fractures: Types and Causes

A broken collarbone, medically known as a clavicle fracture, is a common injury that occurs in the long, thin bone connecting the breastbone to the shoulder blade. This crucial bone plays a significant role in shoulder movement and stability.

Types of Collarbone Fractures

Collarbone fractures are categorized into three main types based on their location:

• Middle fractures: These occur between the breastbone and shoulder joint and are the most common type.
• Lateral fractures: These happen near the shoulder joint.
• Medial fractures: These occur near the breastbone and are the least common type.

Common Causes of Collarbone Fractures

Collarbone fractures typically result from accidents or impacts. The most frequent causes include:

• Direct hits or falls on the shoulder
• Hard falls on an outstretched hand or arm
• Bicycle accidents
• Sports-related injuries, particularly in contact sports

Can a collarbone break from a minor fall. While it’s possible, collarbone fractures usually occur from significant force or impact. However, individuals with weakened bones, such as those with osteoporosis, may be more susceptible to fractures from less severe incidents.

Recognizing the Symptoms of a Broken Collarbone

Identifying a broken collarbone is crucial for prompt treatment. The symptoms are often quite noticeable and may include:

• Intense pain in the shoulder area
• Swelling and tenderness
• Difficulty moving the arm or shoulder
• A grinding sensation when attempting to raise the arm
• Visible sagging in the affected shoulder
• A noticeable bump or deformity at the fracture site

Is a broken collarbone always accompanied by a visible deformity. Not necessarily. While a visible bump or deformity is common, some fractures may not be immediately apparent. It’s essential to seek medical attention if you suspect a collarbone injury, even without visible signs.

Diagnosis and Immediate Care for Collarbone Fractures

If you suspect a broken collarbone, it’s crucial to seek immediate medical attention. The diagnostic process typically involves:

1. Physical examination: A thorough assessment of the affected area
2. X-rays: To confirm the fracture and determine its location and severity
3. CT scans: In some cases, for a more detailed view of the injury

While awaiting medical care, it’s important to immobilize the affected arm to prevent further injury. This can be done by:

• Holding the arm close to the body
• Using a makeshift sling with the hand positioned higher than the elbow
• Avoiding any unnecessary movement of the shoulder or arm

Should you attempt to reset a broken collarbone yourself. Absolutely not. Attempting to reset or manipulate a broken collarbone without proper medical expertise can lead to further injury and complications. Always seek professional medical care for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Treatment Options for Broken Collarbones

The treatment approach for a broken collarbone depends on the severity and location of the fracture. In most cases, conservative treatment is sufficient, but more severe fractures may require surgical intervention.

Conservative Treatment

For most collarbone fractures, non-surgical treatment is the preferred approach. This typically involves:

• Immobilization: Using a sling or figure-eight brace to keep the shoulder still
• Pain management: Over-the-counter or prescription pain medications
• Ice therapy: Applying ice packs to reduce swelling and discomfort
• Physical therapy: Gradual introduction of exercises to restore range of motion and strength

Surgical Intervention

In some cases, surgery may be necessary. Situations that might require surgical treatment include:

• Severely displaced fractures
• Open fractures (where the bone has pierced the skin)
• Fractures with multiple fragments
• Injuries involving damage to surrounding ligaments

Surgical procedures may involve the use of plates, screws, or pins to realign and stabilize the broken bone.

How long after a collarbone fracture can surgery be performed. While immediate surgery is sometimes necessary, in many cases, surgery can be delayed for up to two weeks after the injury without negatively impacting the outcome. This allows time for swelling to subside and for proper pre-operative planning.

The Recovery Process: Timelines and Expectations

Recovery from a collarbone fracture varies depending on factors such as age, overall health, and the severity of the break. Generally, the healing process follows these timelines:

• Children (under 8 years): 4-5 weeks
• Older children and adolescents: 6-8 weeks
• Adults: 10-12 weeks or longer

During the recovery period, patients typically progress through several stages:

1. Initial immobilization and pain management
2. Gradual introduction of gentle range-of-motion exercises
3. Progressive strengthening exercises
4. Return to normal activities and sports

When can you start moving your arm after a broken collarbone. Gentle movement often begins within a few days to weeks after the injury, under the guidance of a healthcare professional. However, the exact timing depends on the individual case and the healing progress.

Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy for Collarbone Fractures

Rehabilitation plays a crucial role in recovering from a collarbone fracture. A well-structured physical therapy program helps to:

• Restore full range of motion to the shoulder
• Rebuild strength in the affected arm and shoulder
• Prevent stiffness and muscle atrophy
• Ensure proper healing and alignment of the bone

Physical therapy typically progresses through several phases:

1. Early phase: Gentle passive movements and isometric exercises
2. Intermediate phase: Active range-of-motion exercises and light resistance training
3. Advanced phase: Progressive strengthening and functional exercises
4. Return-to-sport phase: Sport-specific drills and conditioning

How soon can physical therapy begin after a collarbone fracture. In many cases, gentle physical therapy can start within the first few weeks after injury, even while the bone is still healing. However, the specific timing and intensity of therapy should be determined by your healthcare provider based on your individual case.

Preventing Collarbone Fractures: Strategies for Safety

While it’s impossible to prevent all accidents, there are several strategies to reduce the risk of collarbone fractures:

• Wear appropriate protective gear during sports and high-risk activities
• Maintain strong bones through proper nutrition and exercise
• Practice proper falling techniques in sports like cycling or skiing
• Ensure a safe home environment to prevent falls, especially for older adults
• Use proper form and technique during physical activities and exercise

For athletes and active individuals, additional preventive measures include:

• Regular strength training to build muscle support around the shoulder area
• Flexibility exercises to maintain a good range of motion
• Proper warm-up routines before engaging in sports or intense physical activities

Can strengthening exercises prevent collarbone fractures. While strengthening exercises can’t directly prevent fractures, they can improve overall shoulder stability and potentially reduce the risk of injury in case of falls or impacts.

Long-Term Outlook and Potential Complications

Most collarbone fractures heal completely with proper treatment and rehabilitation. However, it’s important to be aware of potential long-term effects and complications:

• Persistent bump at the fracture site: This is common and usually doesn’t affect function
• Shoulder stiffness: Can be addressed with ongoing physical therapy
• Shortened collarbone: May occur in some cases but rarely causes functional issues
• Nonunion: Rare cases where the bone doesn’t heal properly
• Malunion: Improper alignment of the healed bone

In rare cases, complications may include:

• Nerve or blood vessel damage
• Frozen shoulder syndrome
• Chronic pain or discomfort

Do all collarbone fractures heal completely. While most collarbone fractures heal well with proper treatment, complete healing isn’t guaranteed in all cases. Factors such as age, overall health, and adherence to treatment protocols can influence the healing outcome.

Understanding the recovery process and potential complications of collarbone fractures is crucial for patients and caregivers. By following medical advice, engaging in appropriate rehabilitation, and taking preventive measures, individuals can optimize their recovery and reduce the risk of future injuries. Remember, each case is unique, and it’s essential to work closely with healthcare providers throughout the healing journey.

What Happens When a Collarbone Breaks?

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

In this Article

• What Is a Broken Collarbone?
• Broken Collarbone Symptoms
• Broken Collarbone Causes
• Broken Collarbone Diagnosis
• Broken Collarbone Treatment
• Broken Collarbone Recovery
• Preventing a Broken Collarbone

A broken collarbone, or clavicle fracture, is a break in one of two long, thin bones that connect the breastbone to your shoulder blades. You can feel or see your collarbones toward the top of your chest, running beneath the top of your shoulders.

There are three types of collarbone (clavicle) fractures: 

• Middle of the collarbone between the breastbone and the shoulder joint (the most common type of broken collarbone)
• Near the shoulder joint
• Near the breastbone (the least common type of broken collarbone)

A broken collarbone is usually pretty obvious. You might feel it break or hear a crack when it happens. Afterward, you’ll probably have:

• Pain and swelling
• Trouble moving your arm and shoulder
• A grinding feeling when you try to raise your arm
• Sagging in your shoulder
• A bump around the area of the break

Usually, broken collarbones happen from an accident. 

Common causes of a broken collarbone include: 

• Getting hit or falling on your shoulder
• Falling hard on your hand or arm. This transfers the force of the impact to your collarbone, which snaps
• Falling off a bicycle

Go to your doctor or an emergency room right away if you think you’ve broken your collarbone, especially if there’s tingling, numbness, or weakness in your hand or arm. If your injury is near the sternum (the breastbone) and you have trouble breathing or swallowing, it could be something more serious. 

Try not to move your arm. Either hold it close to your body with your other arm or with a sling with the hand raised higher than the elbow.

To diagnose a broken collarbone, the doctor will give you a thorough physical exam. You’ll need X-rays to confirm the break. If the doctor wants a more detailed look, they might do a CT scan, which uses a series of X-rays to make a picture of the area.

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
• A sling for your arm, which you might use for a few days
• Anti-inflammatory painkillers, like aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen, which will help with pain and swelling. These drugs do have side effects, like a higher risk of bleeding and ulcers. You should only use them for a little while unless your doctor says otherwise. Long-term use can delay bone healing.
• Range-of-motion and strengthening exercises
• An ice pack on the broken bone for 15-20 minutes every few hours to ease pain and reduce swelling. 

In rare cases — especially when ligaments are damaged — you may need surgery to mend a collarbone fracture.

It might take a few weeks to months for a broken collarbone to heal. People recover at different speeds. 

• In young children (under age 8), a broken collarbone may heal in 4-5 weeks. 
• Older kids tend to get better in 6-8  weeks. 
• A broken collarbone in adults and teens who’ve stopped growing can take 10-12 weeks or longer to heal.

You’re ready to return to your previous level of physical activity when:

• You can move your arm and shoulder without any pain.
• The doctor has taken an X-ray and confirmed that the break is healed.

Don’t rush back into your activities too soon. If you start working out before your collarbone is healed, you could break it again. Ask the doctor when it’s safe to return to sports after a broken collarbone. In general, you should wait 8-12 weeks before playing any contact sports, like football or hockey.

Collarbone fractures are tough to prevent, since they usually happen during accidental falls. Even the best-trained athletes can slip sometimes. Still, you should always take precautions to exercise safely.

To prevent a broken collarbone:

• Wear protective gear when playing contact sports. 
• Build strong, flexible muscles with stretching exercises and strength training. 
• Warm up properly before each workout or sports activity.
• Choose well-fitting, sports-appropriate footwear that helps you keep your balance.
• Eat a well-balanced diet full of veggies and foods rich in calcium and vitamin D to build strong bones.

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Three Stages of the Broken Collarbone Treatment for Mountain Bikers

The physical debilitation that follows a break of the collarbone is painfully frustrating for patients of all kinds. This frustration is especially high among mountain bikers, however, who are longing to be liberated from the impairments of their injury and the restrictions that come with broken collarbone treatment. And it certainly doesn’t help when summer has arrived and mountain biking season is at its prime peak.

Unfortunately, mountain bikers are, in fact, among the most likely persons to have to suffer a broken collarbone. Mountain bikers experience an average of 16.8 injuries per athletic exposure. Of these mountain biking accidents, broken collarbones represent one of the most frequently experienced serious orthopaedic injuries.

If you’ve experienced a collarbone injury while biking, effective treatment, a speedy recovery, and a return to mountain biking activity are likely your top priorities. You likely also have questions and concerns about the treatment and recovery process ahead.

The Treatment and Recovery Process

At Rothman Orthopaedic Institute, our Sports Medicine specialists can provide you with the most effective care available. Our advanced treatments and clinical expertise ensures that you will have the fastest recovery possible and the lasting results needed to restore your active lifestyle. Before treatment even begins, however, we can offer you the clarification and reassurance you’re looking for regarding the broken collarbone treatment process.

Learn about the three major stages of the treatment process and the broken collarbone recovery time you can anticipate below.

Stage One: Diagnosis and Consultation

The first stage of treatment is the diagnostic stage. Broken collarbones, or clavicle fractures, vary greatly, and the nature of the break will determine the type of treatment needed.

Diagnostic procedures will begin with a physical examination performed by your doctor, an assessment of symptoms, and a conversation about how the injury occurred. Imaging tests will also be performed, including a broken collarbone X-ray and, in some cases, a CT scan.

Most clavicle fractures experienced by mountain bikers occur due to a fall from the bike with outstretched hands, which sends impactful shock up the arm to the shoulder and collarbone. This usually causes the bone to fracture along the middle portion of the shaft; breaks at the point of attachment to the ribcage may also occur.

The treatment that is recommended in your particular case will depend upon where and how the clavicle is fractured. If the bone fragments have stayed relatively aligned, non-surgical treatment may be sufficient. If a displaced fracture (bone fragments out of alignment) or comminuted fracture (many small bone fragments) has occurred, surgery will likely be necessary.

Stage Two: Treatment (Surgical or Non-Operative)

The treatment proper stage will be the shortest; but it will also be the most impactful.

If you are a candidate for non-surgical care, you will likely be prescribed a combination of the following treatments:

• Supportive Devices: A broken collarbone cast, broken collarbone sling, or broken collarbone brace to hold the fractured bone in place and enable healing.

• Physical Therapy: Patients will be prescribed a personalized physical therapy plan to build musculoskeletal strength and prevent immobility.

• Medication: Anti-inflammatory pain medication will often be prescribed.

Patients with displaced or severely fractured collar bones require surgery to restore the structure of the clavicle. Surgery is also frequently recommended for active patients, such as mountain bikers. The most common surgical procedure for clavicle fractures is an operation known as open reduction and internal fixation.

Stage Three: Recovery and Restoration

After your treatment has concluded, you will transition into the recovery stage.

Recovery will involve immobilization while your collarbone recovers. As healing occurs, physical therapy and rehabilitation exercises will be used to restore strength and function. As needed, pain will be managed with medication. Follow-up meetings with your orthopaedic specialist will likewise be an important component of recovery, both to ensure that healing is progressing properly and to monitor for any possible complications.

It takes several months for full healing of a broken collarbone to occur. Most patients will be able to return to normal activity within three months. Consult with your physician before resuming high-impact mountain biking activity.

Broken Collarbone Treatment at Rothman Orthopaedic Institute

Rothman Orthopaedic Institute is proud to offer injured mountain bikers the most effective broken collarbone treatments available. To learn more about treatment options at Rothman Orthopaedic Institute or to schedule an appointment, please visit us here or contact us at 1-800-321-9999.

Fracture of the collarbone – treatment and rehabilitation in the Ilyinsky hospital.

Clavicle fractures – common
snowboarder injury. Also, this fracture occurs in cyclists, a little
less often for skiers. In everyday life, this fracture can also occur and is often associated
with high energy trauma. In general, clavicle fractures account for up to 6% of all
bone fractures. And in 4 out of 5 cases, this is a fracture of the body of the clavicle, i.e.
middle third of the bone.

Main threat when
a clavicle fracture is either a fusion in the wrong position, or
false joint formation. At the same time, fusion in the wrong position is not at all
no better than a false joint. Fragments are displaced, going behind each other. Bone
shortens, the points of muscle attachment approach. Normally, the muscle is stretched, and
if the fixation points are close, the muscle “sags”. Muscle tissue is regenerated
replaced by connective tissue. When the collarbone is shortened by 1 cm or more, it is lost
up to a third of the strength of the muscles of the shoulder girdle.

• The evolution of methods
  treatment of a clavicle fracture

that in 99% of cases, clavicle fractures should be treated conservatively. However, in
Recently, this view has been revised. It is associated with several
moments. On the one hand, patients have become more demanding of the quality
life after fracture treatment, and to the cosmetic effect after surgery. Second
moment: a conventional radiograph of the clavicle gave only one projection, and a computer
tomography allowed to look behind the bone and examine it from all sides. It is the ubiquitous
The use of computed tomography has made it possible to identify a large number of
nonunions in those cases that at the end of the last century would have been considered quite
satisfactory due to the lack of CT data.

In 2007, the Canadian orthopedic community, focusing on
on the scale of functions and pain of the shoulder joint after fractures of the clavicle, conducted
study. It has been shown that after surgical treatment, the function
recover faster and more stable than after conservative treatment. But completely
to exclude conservative non-surgical treatment of clavicle fractures is still not
costs. There are a number of patients whose clavicle fracture can be successfully treated without
surgical intervention – in particular, young patients with minor
offset.

On the other hand, if the patient is middle or older
age, and he had a primary displacement of 1 – 1.5 cm and even more, then in this
case, as a result of conservative treatment, we are likely to get
nonunion. Also, the choice of the optimal method of treatment is influenced by the age of the patient,
physical activity that was before the injury, profession, expectations of the patient,
the speed of rehabilitation that the patient plans, etc. All this is discussed in
direct conversation between the patient and the doctor.

• Conservative
  treatment

A conservative method is offered to young patients with
slight displacement, when the soft tissue sheath is not torn and is able to hold
bone fragments. With conservative treatment for a period of about 6 weeks
a soft eight-shaped bandage is applied, which fixes the patient in
the position of the straightened clavicles and shoulder girdle. Both halves of the body are fixed, the hand
suspended from the side of the fracture. The figure-of-eight bandage is not rigid, strongly
mobility is not limited. The patient must come for follow-up visits.
behind the process of accretion and expansion of motor activity. With conservative
treatment, you have to visit a doctor and perform x-rays much more often than
in surgical treatment.

• Minimally invasive
  surgery

an informed person will call an intraosseous nail. However, it is not always possible
perform intraosseous osteosynthesis with a nail. This technology has been popular
now its popularity is on the decline due to the unpredictability of the results. Orthopedists-traumatologists
Ilyinsky hospital prefers minimally invasive fracture treatment technologies
clavicle and perform osteosynthesis of the clavicle with a plate, introducing it through point
skin punctures. This high-tech X-ray-assisted operation allows
achieve a good cosmetic effect and good internal elasticity
fixation.

There is another important point. The point is that with the standard
approach, the surgical approach passes over two or three, depending on
individual anatomy of the patient, branches of the important supraclavicular nerve.
Innervation in this zone does not affect function, but does affect sensation.
the upper half of the chest, and in women also on the sensitivity of the breast
glands and nipple areas. After standard access, even if the nerve branches were protected
surgeon, three out of five women experience reduced sensitivity in this important area,
and many women do not. Use of less invasive approaches
excludes contact with the branches of this nerve, and in our patients, along with a fast
rehabilitation and rapid fusion of clavicle fractures is also fully preserved
sensitivity. Minimally invasive access to the clavicle to avoid
contact with the branches of the supraclavicular nerve, was developed and patented by the group
Russian traumatologists under the guidance of Andrey Volna. Currently
Andrey Anatolyevich Volna is the head of the Department of Traumatology, Orthopedics and
spinal surgery at the Ilyinsky hospital.

Collarbone surgery performed under general anesthesia. In
The patient is asleep during the operation. We seat – we seat, but do not lay!
– the patient on the operating table in the “beach chair position”, the so-called
beach
chair position.
The patient is reclining, reclining, as in a deck chair. This position allows
to achieve the most correct comparison of fragments of the clavicle without incision. Operation
is carried out under the control of a special X-ray machine (C-arm). Manipulating the broken pieces through
small incisions and punctures in safe areas, surgeons give them the correct
position. A metal plate is inserted into the incisions and fixed with screws.
A year later, the patient discusses whether the plate should be removed or left. Cosmetic
the consequences of the operation are minimal – two small vertical scars.

The operation is usually performed on the day of admission. On
the next day – dressing, the hand can be located on the scarf in a comfortable
position. The hospital stay lasts 1-2 days.

• Rehabilitation

Surgical treatment of clavicle fracture – practically
painless and comfortable for the patient method of treatment. Functions after it
recover quickly. And if in the case of conservative treatment of a fracture
clavicle, we stimulate physiotherapy exercises, then in the case
surgical treatment, on the contrary, we often even limit the physical
patient activity. Since there is no pain, then any person tries
recover faster … For competent and timely recovery in
Ilyinsky hospital rehabilitation of patients after a fracture of the collarbone is under control
experienced rehabilitators.

• Help for patients with
  false joint – reconstructive surgery

One of the important areas of work of the Department of Traumatology,
orthopedics and spinal surgery of the Ilyinsky hospital is assistance to patients with
false joints. Including after fractures of the clavicle. Such patients
come to us from different parts of the country. In this case, talk about
Unfortunately, minimally invasive surgery is no longer necessary. If a clavicle fracture
was treated incorrectly, then we are left with one path – bone transplantation and
osteosynthesis. AT 90% of cases bone fragment for transplantation is taken from a comb
patient’s iliac bone. And it all depends on what kind of false
the joint is formed. There are difficult cases with a defect after suppuration, then the graft
must be placed in a single block. And sometimes quite a bit is enough.
a fragment of the transplanted bone, only to “refresh” the area of ​​the false joint. This
high level reconstructive surgery.

• Consultations for previously operated patients
  patients

Clavicle fractures are very common among snowboarders. Not in
every place where there is a ski resort, there is also a clinic ready to operate on a fracture.
In addition, not every insurance includes a ski injury – you need to be very
careful when insuring. If the patient comes to us after the operation
– specialists of the Ilyinsky hospital perform X-ray or CT
study, and, depending on its results, determine the optimal mode
rehabilitation or additional treatment.

Clavicle fracture: the importance of rehabilitation | “Orthomedcenter” Simferopol

02Sep 2021 by Orthomedcenter INFO

Unsuccessfully rode a bike, jumped from a hill or just stumbled. No one is immune from this, but often such adventures end in fractures. If the injury occurs on the upper body, the collarbone suffers. And this is a very important bone in our body, connecting the limbs to the torso.

It is a mistake to believe that it is enough just to go to the traumatology, apply a fixing bandage and wait until the bone heals by itself. It is worth thinking about rehabilitation the next day, and now we will tell you why.

How do you know if you really broke your collarbone?

Firstly, the arm sags almost immediately, there is no way to raise one of the upper limbs. Secondly, severe pain forms in the area of ​​injury, a bruise or even a hematoma appears a little later.

What to do if a fracture does happen?

You need to go to the hospital, where the doctor will take an X-ray, determine the complexity of the fracture and prescribe treatment. Most of the time, it’s just a bandage. And how the bone grows together depends only on you, because many do not even resort to rehabilitation methods, letting the situation take its course.

How is rehabilitation going?

Well, if the fracture is not complex, it means that the treatment will be less painful and lengthy. In case of a fracture with displacement of fragments, an operation will be required, which is aimed at connecting the fragments with special plates, screws or implants.

In the case of a normal fracture, recovery will consist of three stages:

● Wearing a fixing bandage and doing a series of exercises;

● Bandage removal, exercises to restore the function of the shoulder joint;

● Therapeutic exercise to restore the function of an injured limb.

Full recovery may take 1 to 2 months.

In order not to harm yourself and not start the situation, it is simply necessary to visit a physiotherapist and a rehabilitation specialist after a collarbone fracture. A physiotherapist will treat you with a magnetic field or ultraviolet radiation. This will help improve blood circulation at the site of injury. The bone will heal faster, and the pain will not return. The rehabilitologist will show you the physical therapy exercises that you will perform at home on your own.

What happens if you don’t go through rehabilitation?

Improper wearing of the fixation bandage, as well as failure to perform procedures and exercises, can cause the bone to heal incorrectly and out of place. A large bump will appear at the site of the fracture, which will cause discomfort when moving the limb. In addition, visually it will be quite noticeable. Sometimes such cases end with surgery, after which you will also have to undergo rehabilitation.