The clavicle, or collarbone,
connects the breastbone (sternum) to the shoulder blade (scapula). Claviclefractures are one of the most common sports injuries among cyclists,
frequently occurring after a fall in which the shoulder breaks the fall.
Since clavicle fractures
normally occur after a fall or some other type of trauma, it’s
arthritis-pain-shoulder-causually immediately obvious that something is wrong.
Clavicle fractures cause severe pain, and typically make it impossible to lift
the arm. It’s usually possible to feel that the bone is broken by touching it.
After falling off a bike, the
immediate priority is to ensure the victim’s safety – checking for spinal cord
injuries, moving away to a safe space if possible. If only the shoulder is
affected, it is important to get to a hospital as soon as possible for diagnosis
and treatment. A broken bone is a medical emergency, and it is always better to
err on the side of having it looked at than on the side of not getting
necessary treatment.
Even though doctors can feel
that the clavicle is broken in the majority of cases, it will still be
necessary to do an x-ray to see exactly how severe the break is.
Clavicle Fracture Surgery
Often, clavicle fractures can
be treated without surgery. Keeping the shoulder in a sling allows the shoulder
to heal, although there will still be a bump where the fracture occurred. Even
without surgery, full function can often return to the surgery.
On the other hand, sometimes
the shoulder fractures in multiple places or the fractured parts become widely
separated. In addition, surgery is necessary if the bone breaks through the
skin. During surgery, the clavicle fracture surgeon will set the bone into an
appropriate position (open reduction), then fixate it using plates, rods, or
screws (internal fixation). After surgery, the treatment process will be
similar to any other clavicle fracture.
Surgery takes place in the
hospital, usually on an emergency basis. After surgery, patients usually stay
in the hospital for at least a day, and up to several days. During the hospital
stay, the nurses and doctors will carefully monitor the clavicle’s healing and
the patient’s reaction to surgery. When discharged, the patient will receive
detailed information about how to care for the collarbone.
Top Clavicle Fracture Surgeon
Dr. Howard Marans of OC
Orthopedic is the top clavicle fracture surgeon in Orange County. Dr. Marans is
a skilled sports medicine doctor with over 20 years of experience in the field.
He has helped hundreds of patients recover from fractures.
Dr. Howard Marans would be happy
to meet with you about your clavicle fracture or other sports injury. To
schedule a consultation with Orange County’s top clavicle fracture surgeon,
please click below and enter your information or call us at 714.979.8981.
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