Fractured Collar Bone
What is a fractured Collar Bone?
A fractured collar bone is a crack or splintering of the collar bone (the bone that runs along the front of the shoulder to the breast bone, located just below your neck). It is the most commonly fractured bone in the body.
What causes a fractured Collar Bone?
You can fracture your collar bone if you fall badly onto an outstretched arm or fall on the shoulder. A collision when doing contact sports such as rugby can also cause a fracture. Collar bone fractures are usually as a result of a physical injury and the bone most often fractures in its middle third.
What are the symptoms of a fractured Collar Bone?
There are various symptoms of a fractured collar bone, but if a fracture occurs you will usually know about it as it’s very painful.
Apart from the pain, other symptoms include swelling and bruising around the broken bone, a bony deformity may be seen or felt and once the swelling has gone down it is often easy to feel the fracture through the skin
What treatment is there for a fractured Collar Bone?
If you suspect you may have broken your collar bone you should see your GP immediately. There are few things you can do yourself to ease the pain or heal the fracture so you must seek medical help.
Treatment mainly involves resting the affected area in a sling. There are various types of slings available, most common been what is referred to as a ‘figure of eight’ splint. This is a brace that wraps around the shoulders to keep them back. It is very unusual for a collar bone fracture to require surgery, unless the fracture has broken the skin or the fracture is severely displaced.
A medical professional will also be able to prescribe pain relief medication to help ease the pain.
A fractured collar bone will take between four to eight weeks to heal. During the healing process no sports activity should be undertaken. Recovery is usually complete with a full return to normal. You may notice a bump where the fracture was for a few months after, or longer, but this shouldn’t cause any problems or pain.
Things you can do yourself
- Rest your shoulder, keeping it in a sling
- Take pain-killers (always seek the advice of a medical professional).