The clavicle is one of the bones that form our shoulder joint. It is also known as the collarbone. Certain causes like falls, contact sports injuries, and automobile accidents can cause the collarbone to break. Sometimes, the bone breaks in infants at the time of birth. Whether mild or severe, it is advisable to seek immediate medical attention in the case of collarbone fractures to avoid any severe complications.
In this post, we will discuss clavicle fractures in detail along with the causes, diagnosis, and treatment.
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Also known as a collarbone fracture, clavicle fractures are characterized by a broken collarbone. The clavicle is the bone that connects the shoulder blade to the breastbone. Clavicle fractures account for more than 40% of all shoulder fractures and are common in adults and children. Falling onto the lateral shoulder often breaks the collarbone and hence, this condition is commonly noticed during childhood.
Most cases of collarbone fractures are mild and can be managed with conservative non-invasive treatments whereas, severely displaced and comminuted fractures require surgical intervention.
Fractures are painful and a broken collarbone also results in severe pain. The pain intensity depends on the cause and the severity of the impact. Besides this, other signs & symptoms associated with the condition include:
Above all, if the fracture is in a newborn, he/she will not be able to move the affected shoulder for days. Even if someone tries to move the arm, the infant will cry.
Falling on the lateral shoulder is among the common causes of clavicle fractures, especially in children. Besides this, other causes of the condition include:
The diagnosis of collarbone fractures requires both physical examination and imaging tests. During the physical examination, the healthcare service provider looks for tenderness in the area along with swelling and bruising. Besides this, the orthopedic specialist will also ask the patient to move his/her arm to notice painful movements. Imaging tests will be performed to confirm the fracture along with its severity. The tests ordered may include:
It is very important to keep the fractured area immobilized for proper healing. This is what the orthopedic specialist will suggest for fixing non-displaced fractures. A sling may be required for immobilization.
Medicines will also be prescribed to curb pain and inflammation. Clavicle fractures in newborns heal on their own within 2 weeks. Careful handling of the child is required to control pain.
Physical therapy also plays a vital role in quick and better fracture recovery.
In severely displaced and open fractures, surgery is required to bring the broken bone fragments in place. Orthopedic screws, pins, rods, and/or plates may be applied to keep bone in its true anatomy.
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