Summary

Causes

Sports Injuries
Fall from a bicycle
Fall on an outstretched hand
Direct blow to the shoulder for example in a car collision

Symptoms

Tenderness, swelling, bruising at the site of fracture
Increase in pain with shoulder movement
Bulge near the shoulder
An inability to move or restriction of shoulder movements.

Treatment

Usually heals without surgery
Sling and pain medications administered
For significantly broken bones surgery is recommended

Surgery involves

General anaesthesia
Use of plate and screws to hold the bones in position

Anatomy of collar bone

Your collar bone connects the upper part of your breastbone to your shoulder blade. A broken collar bone is a common injury particularly in children and young adults.

Common causes include sports injuries, fall from a bicycle, fall on an outstretched hand or a direct blow to the shoulder for example in a car collision.

What are the symptoms of a broken collar bone?

Symptoms includes tenderness, swelling, bruising at the site of fracture. Pain will increase with shoulder movement. You can notice a bulge near your shoulder, an inability to move or restriction of shoulder movements.

When should I see my doctor?

If you notice the above symptoms then you should seek an appointment with the doctor. Delay in diagnosis and treatment can cause healing in a bad position.

What will happen at the time of appointment?

Your doctor will ask you questions relating to the circumstances of your injury. They will then examine your shoulder and your collar bone especially to see that the broken part of the bone is not putting any pressure on your skin i.e indenting your skin. He will do investigations like x-rays to assess your fracture.

What does the treatment involve?

Most broken collar bones can heal without surgery with good function to the shoulder. It means you will be given a sling and pain medications and you will be seen by a physiotherapist who will teach you shoulder, elbow, hand and wrist exercises. You will be seen regularly in clinics with repeat x-rays to make sure the bone is healing up nicely.

However, occasionally if the broken ends of bone have significantly displaced then your doctor may recommend surgery. Surgery normally involves you being put to sleep i.e. a general anaesthesia and then put together the broken pieces of bone into position and hold it with plate and screws.

What does the postoperative rehabilitation involve?

You will recover in the recovery room and should be able to go home the same day. You will be given painkillers to control your pain. Wound healing will take two weeks and you will have to keep wound dry in that time. Sling will be there for six weeks at which stage you can start driving. Total healing is three to four months.

Very occasionally if the plate is prominent under the skin and depending on the nature of the job; we may need to take it out at the end of one year.

Are there any risks associated with surgery?

Risks include infection, damage to nerves or blood vessels, occasionally bleeding, very occasionally injury can happen to the lungs, bones can take a longer time to join and hardware may have to be taken out if it’s very prominent and irritates under the skin. On the whole it is a good procedure to have with very few complications.