Patient education: Clavicle fracture (The Basics)

What is a clavicle fracture? — 

This is when the clavicle, also called the "collarbone," breaks. The clavicle is part of the shoulder joint (figure 1). A "fracture" is another word for a broken bone.

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

When a bone breaks, it might crack, break all the way through, or shatter.

There are different types of fractures, depending on which bone breaks and how. Examples include:

●"Open" fracture – This is when the bone sticks out of the skin or can be seen through a wound.

●"Closed" fracture – This is when the bone does not stick out of the skin and cannot be seen through a wound.

What are the symptoms of a clavicle fracture? — 

Symptoms depend on which bone breaks and the type of break. 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 like pain or tingling in nearby areas.

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. These 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 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. In adults, the callus 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 your injured shoulder on pillows, keeping it above the level of your heart. This might help lessen pain and swelling.

●The doctor might recommend you take 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).

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

●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 sling, bandage, or immobilizer. Ice for at least 6 hours after an injury. It might help to ice longer, even up to 2 days.

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

●Quit smoking, if you smoke. Your doctor or nurse can help. Broken bones take longer to heal if you smoke.

●You might need to work with a physical therapist (exercise expert) after your fracture heals. They will suggest exercises and stretches to strengthen your shoulder and arm muscles and keep them from getting stiff.

When should I call the doctor? — 

Call for advice if:

●You have weakness or less feeling or movement in your arm, hand, or fingers.

●Your shoulder or arm gets swollen or starts to hurt more.

●Your skin gets 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 your fingers turn pale, blue, or gray.

More on this topic

Patient education: Fractures in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Fractures in children (The Basics)
Patient education: Setting a broken bone in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Setting a broken bone in children (The Basics)
Patient education: Surgery to fix a broken bone (The Basics)
Patient education: How to use a shoulder sling (The Basics)