Collarbone fracture

The arm immediately loses strength, and the shoulder on that side visibly droops. This is not an ordinary bruise that will settle after a few days of ointment. It is probably a clavicle fracture.

What is actually happening?

The clavicle is the only bony connection between the torso and shoulder. Its function is simple: it is a frame separating the chest from the shoulder. When the impact is too great, the bone breaks, usually in the middle where it is thinnest. The strut no longer holds, and the arm together with the shoulder droops forward and downward.

Fractures most often occur after a fall onto an outstretched hand or a direct blow to the shoulder, for example while cycling, skiing, in traffic accidents, or during contact sports.

How can you recognize it?

• sharp pain around the collarbone that worsens with the slightest arm movement,
• a visible irregularity, deformity, or clear bulge under the skin at the fracture site,
• the shoulder on the injured side droops lower and shifts forward,
• you cannot raise the arm or hold anything in it because every movement immediately hurts.

Why you should not wait

An untreated or poorly immobilized fracture may heal in an incorrect position, with shortening or displacement of the fragments. The shoulder then permanently loses symmetry, and arm movement may be restricted or painful.

When displacement is substantial, the fragments do not move toward each other on their own because muscles attached to the clavicle pull them in different directions. The longer the fracture remains unreduced, the harder it is to correct its position later, and nonunion may occur.

How we help

We begin with a consultation and X-ray, which shows exactly where the fracture runs and how far the fragments are displaced. If the fracture is broken into several fragments or runs through an area that is harder to assess, we supplement the imaging with computed tomography.

Most fractures, especially those without significant displacement, are treated conservatively with immobilization of the limb and gradual rehabilitation to restore the full range of motion.

When the fragments are significantly displaced, shortened, or broken into pieces, we realign them surgically and stabilize them with a plate or a rod inserted inside the bone so that the clavicle heals in the correct position and length.

There is one goal: a clavicle that heals straight.

Book a consultation

If you suspect a clavicle fracture, do not wait for the fragments to heal on their own in the wrong position. Make an appointment for a consultation. We will assess the course of the fracture and tell you whether immobilization is enough or surgery is needed.