Clavicle injuries are quite common and are suffered by people of all ages, but many people wonder where exactly the clavicle is located and what injuries may be associated with it.
What is a clavicle?
The clavicle is the long bone lying horizontally between the sternal arm and the shoulder blade. The clavicle can be palpated anteriorly at the area between the top of the sternum and the shoulder. Both articular ends of the clavicle are surrounded by ligaments, which are either enlarged or completely severed as the clavicle emerges.
Dislocation of the clavicle
Dislocation of the sternal clavicle is a condition in which the clavicle is displaced from the articular fossa of the sternal clavicle due to mechanical forces. This type of injury is most often sustained during active sports, accidents and other incidents. There are two types of dislocation of the clavicle - anterior and posterior. An anterior dislocation involves the displacement of the clavicle anteriorly from the sternum, and is a more common type of clavicle dislocation than the posterior type. Posterior dislocation occurs when the clavicle is displaced behind the sternum. This type of dislocation requires urgent medical attention as the internal organs behind the clavicle may be damaged.
Symptoms:
- Severe pain at the clavicle
- Decreased range of motion of the affected arm
- Difficulty in lifting the affected shoulder upwards
- Lumps at the site of dislocation
- Difficulty breathing
Treatment
Dislocation of the clavicle is treated surgically because the ligaments and tendons around the joint are severely damaged during the dislocation.
Fracture of the clavicle
A fracture of the clavicle is most often caused by mechanical force from a fall on the shoulder or outstretched arm. This type of injury is often sustained in contact sports: football, wrestling, curling and ice-ball.
Symptoms:
- Pain in the collarbone area
- Difficulty making movements of the affected arm
- Swelling, stretching, and bruising around the injured collarbone
- A lump in the fracture area
Treatment
Clavicle fractures are usually not highly dislocated, so surgical treatment is not usually necessary in the case of a fractured clavicle.
Conservative treatment methods:
- Hand support. Immediately after the injury, a simple arm brace is used to support the arm, limiting the movement of the shoulder joint while preventing movement of the fractured clavicle. This maintains a stable position of the fractured clavicle, which is necessary for faster healing. A special clavicle splint is also recommended to bring the shoulder back and prevent the fractured bones from overlapping each other.
- Cold. Ice is recommended for the first 3-5 days after the injury to reduce pain and swelling. Apply a cold compress or a bag of frozen vegetables to the injured area and apply for 15-20 minutes every 2-3 hours. It is important that the cold compress does not come into direct contact with the skin, so it is recommended to wrap it in a thin cloth before applying it to the injured area.
- Medication.To relieve the pain, the attending physician will prescribe the necessary painkillers.
- Physiotherapy. Exercises to increase the range of motion of the joints are prescribed to prevent stiffness in adjacent joints. As the strength of the whole arm is reduced after the injury, exercises to increase the strength of the shoulder arch and arm muscles are prescribed as the healing process begins and the pain subsides. Exercises to restore full muscular strength are prescribed after the fractured clavicle has fully healed.
Surgical treatment:
If the fractures of the clavicle are far apart after the injury, surgical treatment is indicated. During surgery, the fractured ends of the bone are restored to a regular horizontal line and reinforced to keep them apart and to ensure that the bone heals smoothly.
After a fractured clavicle, the first 4-6 weeks are :
- Avoid lifting the arm and shoulder upwards
- Avoid lifting heavy objects
- Temporarily stop sporting activities and physical exercise
- Perform range-of-motion exercises at the wrist, elbow and shoulder to prevent joint stiffness (as recommended by your doctor or physiotherapist).
When can I return to sport?
The return to sport and normal exercise is informed by the treating doctor. Usually, you can resume normal activities when:
- When the doctor palpates the fractured area and the pain is no longer felt
- The shoulder joint has fully regained its range of motion and the muscles surrounding the shoulder joint have strengthened
- Arm and shoulder movements are painless.
SOURCES:
https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/clavicle-fracture-broken-collarbone/
