The clavicle is located between the rib cage and the shoulder blade. This bone connects the arm to the body and lies above several important nerves and blood vessels. Clavicle fractures are common, accounting for nearly 5 percent of all adult fractures. Most fractures occur in the middle portion, or shaft, of the bone. Very rarely, the bone will break where it attaches to the rib cage or shoulder. Clavicle fractures usually occur during a fall onto the shoulder, a car collision or when an outstretched arm puts enough pressure on the bone to snap or break it. The vital nerves and blood vessels near the clavicle are rarely injured when a fracture occurs.
A clavicle fracture, or broken collarbone, can be extremely painful and makes it difficult to perform everyday tasks. Other signs and symptoms of a clavicle fracture include – sagging of the shoulder, inability to lift the arm due to pain, grinding sensation when lifting the arm, deformity or bump over the break, or bruising, swelling and/or tenderness over the collarbone.
Clavicle fractures can vary in severity. The bone may crack slightly, or break into many pieces, this is called a comminuted fracture. In a comminuted fracture, the broken pieces of the bone may line up straight or may be far out of place – a displaced fracture. Clavicle fractures are usually treated with a sling, worn to keep the arm and shoulder from moving so that the bone can heal. Your doctor may also prescribe pain medication to help relieve discomfort as the fracture heals, and recommend physical therapy to prevent stiffness in the arm. Although there will be some pain, it is important to maintain mobility during the healing process. Most patients will be recommended exercises for elbow motion, immediately following the injury.
However, with displaced fractures, pieces of the bone move too far out of place for the bones to heal naturally. In this case, surgery may be necessary to align the collarbone. After surgery, your doctor will recommend extensive physical therapy, as it is common to lose shoulder and arm strength following the injury. Typical therapy programs will start with gentle, general motion exercises and your doctor will gradually add more to your program as the fracture heals.