Clavicular Fracture

You have two clavicles, and each clavicle is located between the ribcage and shoulder blade. When one of these is broken, this is a clavicular fracture. Clavicular fractures are common and account for around 5% of all adult fractures. While most fractures will heal on their own, with rest and arm support, it is important to receive treatment after it heals, to improve range of motion and strengthen the arm and shoulder.

What is Clavicular Fracture?

Your clavicles, or collarbones, are two long thin bones connecting your scapula to your sternum. A clavicular fracture is a break in one of these two bones. There are three types of clavicular fractures:

middle of the collarbone, between the breastbone and shoulder joint
near the shoulder joint
near the breastbone

A clavicular fracture, near the shoulder joint

Signs and Symptoms of Clavicular Fracture

Symptoms of clavicular fracture include:

Pain and swelling
Difficulty moving arm and shoulder
A grinding feeling when raising the arm
A bump at the break point
Sagging of the shoulder downward and forward

Symptoms of a history of clavicular fracture include:

Difficulty moving arm and shoulder
Possible shoulder impingement or rotator cuff injury
A small bump at the break point

Causes of Clavicular Fracture

Common causes of clavicular fracture include:

Direct blow to the shoulder, either from being hit or falling
Falling onto the arm/hand
Car or bicycle accident
Sports injuries
During birth, as the baby passes through the birth canal

Statistics and Epidemiology related to Clavicular Fracture

A Swedish study in 2016 (2) found that 68% of clavicular fractures occurred in males. 21% of this group were aged between 15-24 years old. Women with clavicular fractures became more prevalent in people older than 65 years.

Another study (3) found that clavicular fractures occur more commonly in children, and represent 8-15% of all pediatric fractures.

Most clavicular fractures are localized in the middle of the collar bone - this makes up 80% (4) of all clavicular fractures.

68%

of clavicular fractures occur in male patients

15%

of all child fractures are clavicular fractures

80%

of all clavicular fractures occur mid-collar bone

Refereces:

1. https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/clavicle-fracture-broken-collarbone/

2. O'Neill, B.J., Molloy, A.P. & Curtin, W. (2011) Conservative Management of Paediatric Clavicle Fractures. International Journal of Paediatrics vol. 2011(172571). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3236468/

3. Kilstrom, C., Moller, M., Lonn, K., & Wolf, O. (2017) Clavicle Fractures: Epidemiology, classification and treatment of 2422 fractures in the Swedish Fracture Register; an observational study. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 18(82). https://bmcmusculoskeletdisord.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12891-017-1444-1

4. Lenza, M., Buchbinder, R., Johnston, R.V., Belloti, J.C., & Faloppa, F. (2019) Surgical versus conservative interventions for treating fractures of the middle third of the clavicle. The Cochrane Database Systematic Reviews Jan 22; 1(1): CD009363. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23740670/

How MHC Treatment Options Can Help Clavicle Fracture

Once the break has healed, Motion Health Centre is the perfect place to go to get your shoulder and arm moving again. Our practitioners are able to assess your weak versus strong muscles, and create a tailored program designed to mobilize and strengthen your shoulder and arm.

Shoulder Recovery Program

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If you want to be free from Shoulder Pain don’t hesitate to call us to book a “Your Motion Matters” Initial Case Review today, for a pain free tomorrow.

Clavicular Fracture