
What is the Clavicle (Collarbone)?
How does Someone Break their collarbone?
What does a Collarbone Fracture Feel Like?
Diagnosis

How to Treat a Clavicle Fracture
Non-Operative
Non-operative management is ideal for people whose fracture is relatively nondisplaced, meaning that the fractured pieces have not significantly shifted. Non-operative management revolves around rest, pain management, and ultimately physical therapy. Typically, patients will rest their arm using a sling while the clavicle heals. Pain relief can be accomplished through medications, like acetaminophen, or other measures, like ice. Eventually, physical therapy can help strengthen the joint. Physical therapy should be done with qualified professionals. It is important to slowly build strength and improve mobility as tolerated. The disadvantage of non-operative management is that it increases the risk of malunion. A malunited bone is one that has not shown evidence of bone healing.
Surgical
Surgical treatment is well-suited for people whose clavicle fractures are displaced and need to be shifted back into the proper position. Surgery can involve plates or pins and screws. Some surgeons favor plates and screws because certain studies have demonstrated that plates improved shoulder scores more than other methods, particularly with unstable fractures. In other situations, some surgeons may favor pins because the incision is smaller. Like non-operative management, surgical management will most likely involve physical therapy. Physical therapy helps improve the strength and mobility of the joint as it continues to heal. The disadvantages of surgery are the complications associated with surgery. These include infection, blood loss, blood clots, and complications secondary to anesthesia.
Conclusion
Frequently Asked Questions About Clavicle Fractures (FAQ)
To ensure a speedy recovery you should avoid nicotine products, you may take anti-inflammatories (ibuprofen, naproxen, etc), work on range-of-motion exercises, and eat a healthy diet with calcium and protein.
It can take up to 3 months for your collarbone to completely heal. Dr. Morton will obtain regular x-rays to evaluate the healing of your clavicle fracture. Many patients are no longer in pain within the first 1 to 2 months. Range of motion activities and physical therapy can accelerate your recovery.
Orthopedic surgeons used to treat many patients with figure-of-eight braces. We found out that these braces do not make an impact on the final outcome or healing rate of broken collarbones. Most orthopedists have abandoned the practice of using a figure-of-eight sling. We commonly treat people with a regular sling until they are comfortable moving their arm on their own.
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