Fracture of Clavicle (collarbone)
Clavicle is the bone that connects the scapula and thoracic bone and constitutes the only bony connection to the shoulder.
The object is curved in the form of the letter S. Flat at the far end and round in center.
Fractures in the collarbone are common in young people usually due to falling on the shoulder in sports activities such as motorcycle and bicycle.
The fractures in the collarbone are very diverse and can be in the center of the bone (about 80% of the fractures), at the proximal end of the chest (about 3% of the fractures) or near the shoulder.
The fragments can be simple – two parts without crushing or fragments consisting of several fragments.
Following the fracture, the clavicle may be shortened and local pressure may be applied to the skin when one of the fracture fractions protrudes upward.
The initial treatment of the fracture in the bone is a suspension and evacuation as soon as possible for a x-ray and examination by a physician.
Due to the wide variety of types of fractures in the collarbone, there is no recommended treatment type and each casualty will receive the specific treatment according to:
The victim (age, physical condition, athletic activity, personal characteristic)
The fracture (location, position)
In fractures with minimal movement the conventional treatment is conservative – no surgery while the arm suspended for about a month and a half while doing physiotherapy.
Surgical treatment is acceptable for fractures with movement or when there is local pressure on the skin.
The objective of the surgical treatment is the anatomical return of the collarbone to ensure proper placement of the shoulder in it’s place.
The surgery usually allows an early return to activity and regular physiotherapy to ensure good shoulder movements with no loss of strength.
Today, the surgical means to perform surgery to correct a fracture in the collarbone have become very sophisticated, and we have Intramedullary rod that enable the fixation of the bone in a minimal cut. The splint is done within the bone and there is no external disturbance to the bone.
In more complex fractions, we have special anatomical plates that are precisely suited to the structure of the collarbone, enabling a stable and strong fixation of the fracture.
After surgery, the arm is placed in a sling and a physiotherapy treatment is required to move the shoulder and strengthen the muscles after about a week.
Full recovery from a fracture of the collarbone is expected to take about three months.
A fractured of the clavicle before surgery:
A fractured of the clavicle with an intramedullary rod:
