Broken Clavicle

Did you fall onto an outstretched hand recently? Are you experiencing gripping pain while trying to move your arm? You must get yourself examined soon, the pain might be caused due to a fractured clavicle. Clavicle or the collarbone is located over the top of the chest, between the shoulder blade and the breastbone. Since our collarbone is attached centrally to the breast bone and the shoulder blade, a blow to this area or a fall might result in a broken clavicle or a clavicle fracture. Those people who are involved in sports such as wrestling, rugby or football are very prone to this type of injury.

Broken Collarbone

The placement of this bone makes it very susceptible to fractures and injuries. The fracture generally occurs at its weakest point placed at the middle third of its length. Some babies are also born with a broken collarbone. A baby's collarbone might get fractured during the passage down the birth canal. Since collarbone doesn't harden till a person reaches the age of 20 years, children are also very prone to such injuries.

Symptoms

Since the collarbone is placed very close to the skin, the impact of a fall might manifest in the form of sharp shoulder pain, collarbone pain, bruising or protruding fracture fragments. A clavicle fracture can affect the mobility of your arm to a great extent. You might hear snapping sounds and there could be swelling at the affected area. In some cases, the shoulder which has received a blow or was injured due to the fall might slump downward. You might also experience a tingling sensation and muscle soreness. If you experience a grinding pain as you try to lift your arm, you must get an X-ray done soon. This will help the doctor determine the point of break.

Treatment

If you are experiencing pain around your shoulder or the collarbone area, it is very important to get yourself medically examined. A person with a fractured clavicle must take rest in order to facilitate proper alignment of the bones. If there is a lot of swelling, you can apply ice packs wrapped in a cloth on the area. You can also use warm heating pads. The doctors might also prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs in order to ease the pain. Generally, the treatment will depend on the degree of displacement of the fracture fragments. Surgery might be required only in cases of excessive displacement.

Generally a strap or a sling is worn to keep the clavicle in place. If you are an athlete and you wish to recover and return to sports soon, there are some other surgical techniques as well. A small titanium plate can be screwed to the collarbone over the site of fracture, this will immobilize the collarbone and diminish the chances of complications. While the bone is supported well by the plate, the bones will fuse together naturally. If an adult has a broken clavicle, the recovery time is generally 8-12 weeks, but the healing process for children might take less time. Vigorous exercise or jerky movements must be avoided as that will hamper the healing process. Once the pain has subsided and the X-ray reports show a marked improvement, you can also go for physiotherapy sessions and try some strengthening exercises.

If you suffered from an injury that caused your collarbone to fracture, you must take rest and refrain from any vigorous exercises in order to avoid any complications. Those who are involved in sports must wear protective sports equipment to diminish the chances of such injuries.