Fractured Clavicle Post-Operative Care
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Discharge home
After your surgery you will stay in hospital overnight and can be discharged the following day with pain relief tablets.
Pain relief
After surgery it is normal to have some pain or discomfort. The amount of surgery you have had will influence how much pain you can expect and how long you will need pain relief for. You will be given pain relief tablets to take home with you when you leave the hospital. Take these over the next to take for two to three of days as you need. If you have had a graze over the clavicle you may be discharged with antibiotics to help prevent infection.
Looking after the surgical scar: There will be a dressing over the surgical incision over the collar bone. You will be in a sling for comfort. This helps to keep the clavicle still while it heals and helps you to remain as comfortable as possible.
You will need to keep the dressing clean and relatively dry.
If the dressing does get wet, pad it dry – it should remain on for 10-14 days.
Movement after surgery
You can move you 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 clavicle rest.
It is a good idea to keep moving even after your surgery, it helps your blood circulation and stops your body getting too weak. Avoid any strenuous activity for the first 2 weeks, but gentle walking and exercise is helpful
In the first 2 weeks after surgery do not lift your shoulder above 90 degrees or lift anything heavier than a glass of water.
You can gentle move the shoulder in a circular type motion – this is called a pendular shoulder exercise.
Wound review
After 2 weeks you will have an appointment with your specialist to have your wound checked, any stitches will be removed. The team will then give you advice on exercises and physiotherapy.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy can be helpful to get your shoulder moving and strong again, but do not start this until you have had your appointment with your specialist at 2 weeks.
Driving
You cannot drive until you have had your first review appointment with Dr Stevens. He 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 you have had and the type of work you do. Most surgeries will need 2 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 the 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
