Fractured Clavicle Treatment
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Overview
Clavicle (otherwise known as collar bone) fractures are relatively common injuries. Some fractures can be managed in a sling but more serious or displaced fractures of the clavicle require surgery.
Assessment
Trauma Surgeons at Victorian Bone and Joint Specialists will assess your injury and organise x-rays and scans if required. If surgery is needed, our specialists will help guide you through the process as a successful outcome will require recovery and rehabilitation often with physiotherapists close to your home location in Melbourne.
Specialists will look at the fracture type, skin, nerve function and any other injury to the area.
Treatment
Non-operative management
A simple crack in the bone, while painful, will normally heal well. Surgeons at Victorian Bone and Joint Specialists will fit a sling to help hold the shoulder in place. Follow up x-rays will be required.
Surgical management
If the broken clavicle has moved too much or if there is issue with the bone and the skin then surgery to lock the bone back in place maybe the best option. Your surgeon at Bone and Joint will discuss this with you.
Risks associated with surgery
There are risks with surgery. These include infection, delayed healing or no healing of the bone. Often, due to the close proximity of the clavicle to skin, surgery to remove screws or plate is required once the bone has healed. Damage to nerve or blood vessels may have occurred as a result of the injury or when fixing the fracture. Rarely, serious injury to blood vessels or lung may occur and this can have serious consequences. Your surgeon will discuss this with you.
Post-operative management
You will stay in hospital overnight following your clavicle surgery and will be discharged the next day with pain relief to take for a couple of days when you need.
You will have a dressing on your surgery site which needs to stay clean and dry for 14 days.
You can move your hand, fingers and elbow straight away, but wear the sling provided for most of the day. The sling helps to take the weight of your arm to let the shoulder rest.
You can begin to gently move the shoulder a couple of days after surgery but do not carry any weight or lift anything during the first 2 weeks.
Do not lift your shoulder above 90 degrees or lift anything heavier than a glass of water.
After 2 weeks you will have an appointment with your surgeon to have your wound looked at, any stitches removed, they will then give you advice on exercises and physiotherapy.
Physiotherapy can be helpful to get your arm and shoulder moving and strong again, but do not start this until you have had your appointment with your specialist.
Pendular type exercises can be started at home yourself in the first 2 weeks after surgery:
This exercise allows you to gently move the shoulder and arm in a slow circular movement several times and day. It helps keep the shoulder moving so that it does not get stiff.
Walking and gentle exercise is recommended after your surgery.
You cannot swim or start hydrotherapy until the wound has healed completely, usually at least 2 weeks.
Wound review
This will occur at the rooms at 2 weeks.
Driving
You cannot drive until you have had your first review appointment with the team. They will give you an indication then when you are likely to be able to drive again.
Returning to work
This depends on the type of surgery to the shoulder you have had and the type of work you do. Most surgeries will need 2-6 weeks off work, some will require longer, especially if you have a manual job.
When to contact us
If you have any of these problems, please call our rooms on 03 5752 5020
Fever
Heavy bleeding or ooze from the wound
Increased swelling and redness around the surgery site
Pain in the calf muscles or difficulty breathing
