The clavicle (collar bone) is a superficial bone connecting the trunk to the upper limb. It can be fractured during delivery or later. The cause is a fall on the outstretched hand, motor vehicular accidents or domestic falls leading to a sideward or frontal blow to the shoulder.Fracture clavicle is a very common orthopaedic injury.
Symptoms
· Pain · Visible swelling · Raising the arm may cause severe pain.
Risks fractures
It is a common birth injury in difficult labour and may be associated with a brachial plexus injury.
· Contact Sports like rugby, football, and other sports injuries sustained in Skiing, mountain climbing.
· Children are also at great risk as they can fall out of bed, bicycles, horseback and camel-back (in the Middle east where children are used as jockeys in camel racing.)
· Bone weakness
Treatment
This bone often heals on its own. Rest in a collar and sling for two to three weeks leads to union. When there is an associated injury to the blood vessels or nerves or where there is tenting of the skin then operative treatment may be advised. Symptoamtic non unions in manual labourers and sports men may need open reduction,bone grafting and internal fixation. Surgery for fresh fractures consists of reducing the fracture and fixing it with a plate or an intramedullary threaded rod. External fixators avoid a scar. The patient who requests surgery should be informed that he/she will exchange a bump for a scar. Surgery is usually required for fractures of the lateral third. |
