Patient education: Clavicle fracture (The Basics)

What is a clavicle fracture? — A "fracture" is another word for a broken bone. The clavicle is also known as the collarbone. It is part of the shoulder joint (figure 1).

There are different types of fractures, depending on how the bone breaks. When a bone breaks, it might crack, break all of the way through, or shatter.

If a broken bone sticks out of the skin or can be seen through a wound, doctors call it an "open" fracture. If the bone does not stick out of the skin or cannot be seen through a wound, doctors call it a "closed" fracture."

A clavicle fracture can happen after a fall, sports injury, or accident.

What are the symptoms of a clavicle fracture? — Symptoms depend on which bone breaks and the type of break it is. Common symptoms can include:

●Pain, swelling, or bruising over the area

●The area looking abnormal, bent, or not the usual shape

●Not being able to move the arm or put weight on that part of the body

●Numbness in the area of the broken bone

If a fracture injures a nerve, this can also cause symptoms in nearby areas. For example, a break to the upper arm bone might cause pain, tingling, or weakness in the elbow and wrist.

Is there a test for a clavicle fracture? — Yes. The doctor or nurse will ask about your symptoms, do an exam, and take an X-ray.

They might also do other imaging tests, such as a CT, MRI, or ultrasound. Imaging tests create pictures of the inside of the body.

How are clavicle fractures treated? — Treatment depends, in part, on the type of fracture and how serious it is. The goal is to have the ends of the broken bone line up with each other so the bone can heal.

If the ends of the broken bone are already in line with each other, the doctor might restrict arm or shoulder movement to keep the bone in the correct position so it can heal. They might do this with an arm sling, a "figure-of-8" bandage (figure 2), or a shoulder immobilizer with straps that secure the arm and wrist.

If the ends of the broken bone are not in line with each other, the doctor will need to line them up:

●Sometimes, they can move the bone to the correct position without doing surgery, and then put a sling or shoulder immobilizer on. This is called "closed fracture reduction."

●For more serious fractures, they might need to do surgery to put the bone back in the correct position. During surgery, they can use screws, pins, rods, or plates to fix the bone inside the body. This is called "open fracture reduction."

How long do clavicle fractures take to heal? — Most clavicle fractures take weeks to months to heal. As clavicle fractures heal, they often develop a bony bump, which you can see and feel. This is called a "callus" and is a normal part of healing. In children, the callus usually disappears, while in adults, the bump often stays even after healing is complete.

Healing time also depends on the person. Healthy children usually heal much more quickly than older adults or adults with other medical problems.

How do I care for myself at home? — To care for yourself or your child at home:

●Follow the doctor's instructions for wearing the sling, figure-of-8 bandage, or shoulder immobilizer. This supports and protects the bone as it heals.

●Follow instructions for limiting activity and movement until the bone is healed. The doctor or nurse will tell you what activities are safe to do.

●Prop the injured shoulder on pillows, keeping it above the level of the heart. This might help lessen pain and swelling.

●The doctor might recommend an over-the-counter pain medicine. These include acetaminophen (sample brand name: Tylenol), ibuprofen (sample brand names: Advil, Motrin), and naproxen (sample brand name: Aleve).

●Some people get a prescription for stronger pain medicines to take for a short time. Follow the instructions for taking these medicines.

●Ice can help with pain and swelling:

•Put a cold gel pack, bag of ice, or bag of frozen vegetables on the injured area every 1 to 2 hours, for 15 minutes each time. Put a thin towel between the ice (or other cold object) and the skin.

•Use the ice (or other cold object) for at least 6 hours after the injury. Some people find it helpful to ice longer, even up to 2 days after their injury.

●Eat a healthy diet that includes plenty of calcium, vitamin D, and protein (figure 3)

●If you smoke, try to quit. Broken bones take longer to heal if you smoke.

●Some people need to work with a physical therapist (exercise expert) after their fracture heals. The physical therapist will suggest exercises and stretches to strengthen the shoulder and arm muscles and keep them from getting stiff.

When should I call the doctor? — Call for advice if:

●There is weakness or less feeling or movement in the arm, hand, or fingers.

●The shoulder or arm becomes swollen or starts to hurt more.

●The skin becomes red or irritated around the figure-of-8 bandage or shoulder immobilizer.

●The figure-of-8 bandage or shoulder immobilizer feels too tight and uncomfortable, or the fingers turn pale, blue, or gray.

More on this topic

Patient education: Fractures (The Basics)
Patient education: Calcium and vitamin D for bone health (The Basics)
Patient education: Quitting smoking (The Basics)
Patient education: Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (The Basics)

Patient education: Quitting smoking (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Calcium and vitamin D for bone health (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (Beyond the Basics)