About this topic
The clavicle is also called the collarbone. It is the long bone that connects your upper arm to the trunk of your body. The collarbone holds your shoulder joints and allows your arms to move. ‚
A clavicle fracture is a break in your collarbone. The treatment will depend on where and how bad the injury is. For a minor fracture, you may be treated with a brace or sling. Very bad fractures may be treated with surgery. You may also need therapy and pain drugs. ‚
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What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- Rest. Avoid putting any pressure on your injured bone.
- Place an ice pack or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a towel over the painful part. Never put ice right on your skin. Do not leave the ice on for more than 10 to 15 minutes at a time.
- If you have a sling, wear it as you have been told by your doctor.
- Keep your arm raised up above the level of your heart.
What follow-up care is needed?
- Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits. You may need an x-ray, CT scan, or MRI test done to make sure that your bone is healed all the way.
- You may need to see a physical therapist. This will help you regain strength and keep good motion.
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain
- Prevent infection
- Help with swelling
Will physical activity be limited?
You may need to rest for a while. You should not do physical activity that makes your health problem worse. If you run, work out, or play sports, you may not be able to do those things until your health problem gets better. It may take 8 to 10 weeks for a fractured collarbone to heal. ‚
What problems could happen?
- Infection
- Damage to the nerves or blood vessels
- Bleeding
- Less movement
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- Prevent falls by not standing on chairs or other unstable things. Remove throw rugs, electric cords, and other objects from floor areas that may cause falls.
- Eat a healthy diet to keep your bones healthy. Eat foods rich in calcium and vitamin D.
- Stay active and work out to build strong muscles and bones.
- Wear your seatbelt when driving or riding in a car.
- Wear proper padding and safety gear when playing sports or doing other activities.
- If you have osteoporosis, talk to your doctor about drugs you may need to take.
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, or a wound that will not heal.
- Signs of wound infection. These include swelling, redness, warmth around the wound; too much pain when touched; yellowish, greenish, or bloody discharge; foul smell coming from the cut site; cut site opens up.
- Pain, numbness, tingling, or swelling gets worse
- Change in the color of your arm
- Your splint gets damaged, breaks, or feels too tight
- Health problem is not better or you are feeling worse
Helpful tips
- Wear supportive wraps if you need to do heavy lifting. This may lessen the strain on your shoulder joint.
- Try to gently massage your shoulders and arms after doing hard activities.
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my fracture.
- I can tell you how to care for my injured area.
- I can tell you what may help ease my pain.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have more pain or I have more numbness and tingling and swelling.
Where can I learn more?
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons ‚
http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00072 ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
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Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚