Fracture of collarbone: symptoms, causes, to treatment

Definition

What is a broken collarbone?

A collarbone fracture occurs when the collarbone is hit directly to the shoulder. This injury can also be caused by direct trauma to the collarbone during a car crash or other accident.

This condition is a common injury, usually in children and adolescents. The collarbone connects the top of the sternum to the scapula.

Falls, sports injuries, and trauma from accidents can be the causes of this condition. Babies can also experience this condition during the birth process.

How common is this condition?

This condition is common in strenuous sports such as football and hockey, and in sports where there is a risk of hard falls (such as cycling, skiing, snowboarding, and skateboarding).

This can also occur in newborns, but rarely. This can be overcome by reducing your risk factors. Please discuss with your doctor for more information.

Signs & symptoms

What are the symptoms of a collarbone fracture?

Common symptoms of a collarbone fracture include:

• Swelling, pain, and bruising along the collarbone
• Increased pain and a cracking sound when your child tries to move the shoulder or arm
• There is deformity in the broken part
• Shoulders slump down or forward
• Newborn children often can't move their arms.

There may be signs and symptoms not listed above. If you have concerns about a particular symptom, consult your doctor.

When should I see a doctor?

You should see your doctor right away if:

• Your arm is numb or feels like it is being pricked.
• You feel very sick and the medicines can't work.
• Your shoulders look deformed and the bones are sticking out of the skin.
• You can't move your arms.

Cause

What causes collarbone fractures?

This condition is caused by an injury to the shoulder. Quoted from the Mayo Clinic, the causes of collarbone fractures are:

• Fall down, such as a fall while outstretched or a direct hit to the collarbone itself.
• Sports injury, like a direct hit to your shoulder.
• Vehicle trauma, such as a car, motorcycle, or bicycle accident.
• Injury at birth: In newborns, this condition can occur when they are born through a narrow birth canal that puts pressure on their collarbones.

Risk factors

What increases my risk for a collarbone fracture?

There are many risk factors for this condition, such as:

• You are an athlete who frequently performs strenuous activities, especially football, wrestling, hockey, rugby and other contact sports. This exercise can cause fractures when you fall.
• Age: collarbone is most common in teenagers, but this doesn't mean your collarbone won't be damaged as you get older. The risk increases when you reach middle age.
• High birth weight: having a high birth weight can put the baby at greater risk of developing this condition during labor and delivery.

Diagnosis and treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

How is a collarbone fracture diagnosed?

To diagnose a collarbone fracture, the doctor will ask about the symptoms and situation at the time the fracture occurred. Your doctor may check the feeling and strength in your arms, hands, and fingers to see if there is nerve damage.

If it is suspected that you have a broken collarbone, your doctor will recommend an X-ray of your shoulder to make a further diagnosis. X-rays can show images of a broken collarbone in terms of its location and severity, or if any other bone has been damaged.

In some cases, if the doctor needs to look at the fracture in more detail, computerized tomography (CT) scan will be performed.

How are collarbone fractures treated?

Restricting the movement of bones is very important for healing. To rest a broken collarbone, you may need to wear an arm sling.

How long you rest from activities depends on the severity of the injury. Healing from a fracture usually takes three to six weeks for children and six to 12 weeks for adults.

A baby's collarbone that is broken during labor usually heals by controlling the pain and treating the baby with care.

The following are treatment options to treat this condition:

• Drugs

To treat pain and inflammation, your doctor may recommend pain medication.

• Therapy

To keep the arm from moving, the doctor can use a sling. This can keep your collarbone from dislocating while it is healing.

Rehabilitation begins immediately after initial treatment. In most cases, it's important to make some movements to reduce stiffness in your shoulders.

After your sling is removed, your doctor may recommend additional rehabilitation exercises or physical therapy to restore muscle strength, joint motion, and flexibility.

• Operation

Surgery may be needed if the broken collarbone has penetrated the skin, is heavily displaced, or is in multiple pieces.

Surgery usually includes placing a fixation device to maintain the position of your healing bone. Surgical complications are rare, but can include infection.

Can this condition be cured?

Quoted from Kids Health, if the collarbone is broken, the body can usually make it straight back. That's because the collarbone has a thick periosteum (outer layer of bone). The periosteum of the collarbone usually does not break and is responsible for holding the bones together during healing.

Sometimes, there is a lump where the bone has broken. In children who are still growing, the bumps tend to get smaller and disappear within a year.

Sometimes, the bumps don't go away completely. However, it does not cause pain or other problems in the arm or shoulder.

Home remedies

What are some lifestyle changes or home remedies that can be done to treat this condition?

You can apply an ice pack around the broken area to help reduce pain. This solution is usually needed for the first two or three days after the fracture has occurred for 20 to 30 minutes every 2 to 3 hours.

The following lifestyle and home remedies can help you manage your risk for this condition:

• Wear protective gear for sports.
• Ask your coach how to reduce the risk of falls when you take part in sports.
• Follow a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D to strengthen your bones.

If you have any questions, consult your doctor for the best solution to your problem.