Clavicle (Collarbone) Fracture

The clavicle is the bone is that runs along the front of the shoulder to the breast bone and is more commonly referred to as the collarbone. A fractured clavicle is a crack or splintering of this bone.

What causes a fractured clavicle?

A fractured clavicle is most commonly the result of a physical injury such as falling on to the shoulder or an outstretched arm or a collision during contact sports. It should be noted that fractures can happen for no obvious reason at all. Therefore, it is very important that your Doctor is fully aware of your mechanism of injury so that he/she can decide whether further investigations are needed.

What are the symptoms of a fractured clavicle?

A fractured clavicle is usually very painful. However as well as pain you may experience some or all of the following symptoms:

Swelling around the broken bone
Bruising around the broken bone
A bony deformity which may be felt easily once the swelling has reduced

How is a fractured clavicle diagnosed?

If you suspect you may have a fractured clavicle it is of utmost importance that you attend your local Accident and Emergency Department immediately who will be able to confirm if this is the diagnosis following an x-ray.

Physiotherapy treatment for a fractured clavicle

If you have fractured your clavicle, the extent to which you have done this will determine whether or not surgery is indicated. Either way, you are usually given a sling and advised by your consultant to rest the arm and shoulder for a period of time (usually 4-8 weeks). Once they are happy for you to start moving the shoulder again, physiotherapy treatment can be extremely beneficial in order to help you return to normal activities as quickly as possible and reduce the likelihood of re-injury.

Physiotherapy treatment may include