When you suspect you’ve broken a bone, especially one as complex as the collarbone, it can be difficult to know where to go for the quickest and most advanced care. The shoulder experts at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio, along with their other orthopedic trauma colleagues, specialize in diagnosing, treating and helping people heal from fractures of the collarbone (clavicle) and other upper-extremity bones. Whether you visit our Emergency Department, Ohio State Orthopedic Urgent Care or one of our other conveniently located Advanced Urgent Care locations, we’ll provide a customized treatment and recovery plan that meets your needs and goals.
What is a clavicle fracture?
The clavicle, also known as the collarbone, is one of the main bones in the shoulder. It rests between the rib cage (sternum) and the shoulder blade (scapula), connecting the arm to the body.
If the collarbone breaks, a fracture occurs. A clavicle fracture is a common orthopedic condition, accounting for roughly 5% of all adult fractures. It can be very painful and debilitating, so it’s important to seek medical attention quickly when you think you or a loved one have a broken collarbone. Most broken collarbones, when treated correctly with slings, rest and physical therapy, don’t require surgery.
What causes a broken collarbone?
A broken collarbone happens when a fall onto or a direct hit to the shoulder or outstretched arm causes the collarbone to break at one or more places. The most common causes of a broken collarbone include:
- A fall onto the shoulder or outstretched arm
- A direct blow to the shoulder or collarbone during sports
- A motor vehicle accident
- A birth injury (to a baby during a vaginal birth)
Symptoms of a broken collarbone
Intense pain and an inability to move your arm are hallmark symptoms of a clavicle fracture. Other signs and symptoms of a broken collarbone can include:
- Swelling or bruising
- Deformity or bump near the shoulder
- Stiffness and inability to raise your arm
- Sagging of the shoulder
- A grinding sensation when you try to move the arm or shoulder
If you have any of the above symptoms, we’ll perform various imaging tests to accurately diagnose the broken collarbone, identify the site of the fracture, and double check that there aren’t other shoulder injuries present. Imaging tools could include X-rays or computed tomography scans.
Broken collarbone treatment
Once you have a diagnosis, our shoulder experts will create a customized treatment plan for you that includes providing physical therapy and rehabilitation to restore function.
If the affected bone hasn’t shifted too far out of place and there aren’t any other shoulder injuries, nonsurgical treatment methods can generally be used to treat a broken collarbone. Those therapies, many of which are offered at our urgent care locations, can include:
- Arm bracing – Keeping the shoulder area immobile will help with pain and allow the fracture to heal. Putting your arm in a sling or other device is usually one of the first steps to treating a broken collarbone.
- Pain medications – Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, can help manage pain. Sometimes prescription pain medications may be given in the first few days following a clavicle fracture.
- Ice – Ice can help with swelling, stiffness and pain.
- Physical therapy – As your collarbone heals, gentle physical therapy exercises can help keep your muscles loose and prevent the development of a condition called frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis). After the bone is healed completely, physical therapy can restore lost function or strength.
Surgical treatment for a clavicle fracture
While most people recover from a broken collarbone without the need for shoulder surgery, sometimes surgical interventions are necessary. This is typically the case when the collarbone is broken in more than one place, the bone has shifted too far out of alignment or there are other injuries to the area.
Surgical treatments of fractures of the shoulder or collarbone typically involve placing a strong plate and screws on the bone to hold it in place while it heals.
How long does it take to recover from a broken collarbone?
Recovery time will vary, but most people are able to return to normal activity after about three months. If you’re an athlete, it’s important to listen to your doctor about when it’s appropriate to return to sports, because you can injure your shoulder further if your broken collarbone isn’t healed completely.
Are there long-term effects of a broken collarbone?
Most people fully recover from a broken collarbone. In rare cases, people may experience one of these complications:
- Joint pain
- A fracture that doesn’t heal (a nonunion)
- A bump or other deformity at the healing site
- Frozen shoulder
Our shoulder experts specialize in minimizing the risks of these complications, and if they do occur, they know how to fix these issues.