Your collarbone (or clavicle) is the bone that runs horizontally between the top of your breastbone (sternum ) and shoulder blade (scapula). You can feel your collarbone by touching the area between your neck and your shoulder. A broken collarbone, also called a clavicle fracture, is when this bone breaks.
Q. What can you do for a broken collarbone?
Seek prompt medical attention for a broken collarbone. Most heal well with ice, pain relievers, a sling, physical therapy and time. But a complicated break might require surgery to realign the broken bone and to implant plates, screws or rods into the bone to hold the bone in place during healing.
Q. Is there a bone under your collarbone?
Understanding a lump on the collar bone A lump on your collarbone may be cause for concern. This long, thin bone connects your shoulder to your chest. It runs just beneath the skin’s surface and is generally smooth.
Q. What muscle is by your collarbone?
Muscular attachments to the clavicle include the sternocleidomastoid, pectoralis major, and subclavius muscles proximally and the deltoid and trapezius muscles distally.
Q. Why is my collar bone visible?
Like the ribs, the clavicle is attached to the sternum, sometimes also known as the breast bone, on its medial end. The other side of the collarbone is connected to the scapula for structural support to the shoulder. The beauty bone is known to attract attention when it is visible.
Q. When does a collarbone need surgery?
If a clavicle fracture is displaced more than 15 mm (in kids more displacement can be accepted as they are still growing) then I recommend the fracture be treated surgically as the clinical results are better than allowing the fracture to heal in a displaced position.
Q. Can clavicle fracture heal itself?
Usually a broken collarbone will heal on its own. You just need to give it time. To help speed the healing, you might get: A splint or brace to keep your shoulder from moving.
Q. How should you sleep with a broken collarbone?
use extra pillows at night to keep yourself more upright if you find sleeping uncomfortable. use ice packs and painkillers if pain and swelling continues while your arm is in a sling. move your elbow, hand and fingers regularly as soon as it’s comfortable to do so.
Q. Can you drive with a broken clavicle?
Immobilization is seldom needed beyond a few weeks and at that point, light activity and gentle motion can usually begin. As a general guide to return to activities, nothing should cause worsening pain. If not wearing a sling causes pain, wear a sling. If driving hurts the fracture site, don’t drive.
Q. What happens if you break your clavicle?
A broken collarbone can be very painful and can make it hard to move your arm. Most clavicle fractures can be treated by wearing a sling to keep the arm and shoulder from moving while the bone heals. With some clavicle fractures, however, the pieces of bone move far out of place when the injury occurs.
