A clavicle fracture is a break in the collarbone, one of the main bones in the shoulder. This type of fracture is quite common. It accounts for about 5 percent of all adult fractures. Most clavicle fractures occur with a fall on the shoulder. A broken collarbone can be very painful and make it difficult to move your arm.
Clavicle Fracture Symptoms
Apart from the pain and limitation of movement mentioned above, signs and symptoms of Clavicle Fracture may include:
- Shoulder sagging downward and forward
- Inability to lift the arm due to pain
- Grinding sensation when you try to lift the arm
- deformity
- Bruising, swelling, or tenderness over the collarbone
Clavicle Fracture Treatment
Most clavicle fractures can be treated by wearing a sling to prevent movement of the arm and shoulder while the bone heals. However, in some clavicle fractures, bone fragments become displaced when the injury occurs. For such complex fractures, surgery to realign the clavicle is required. Open reduction and internal fixation. This is the procedure most commonly used to treat clavicle fractures. During the procedure, the bone fragments are first brought (reduced) into their normal alignment. The bone fragments are then held in place with special metal hardware.