Broken Collarbone

Reviewed on 8/11/2022

What Does a Broken Collarbone Look LIke?

X-ray of a broken collarbone (clavicle)
X-ray of a broken collarbone (clavicle)
  • The clavicle (commonly referred to as the collarbone) is a bone found on both sides of the chest that connects the sternum or breastbone to both shoulders. A fractured clavicle is the medical term used when the collarbone is broken.
  • A broken collarbone can be caused by trauma (sports injuries, car accidents, falls, etc.), genetically weak bones, or illness such as osteoporosis or cancer. The clavicle of a newborn may break during delivery.
  • Symptoms of a fractured collarbone include a popping or clicking sound and a sensation when the collarbone breaks, followed by sharp pain. The area will hurt when the arm is moved. The skin over the break may bulge outward, and there may be bruising.
  • A broken collarbone requires medical care and an X-ray of the clavicle is usually needed. You may be referred to an orthopedic specialist for treatment.
  • Treatment for a broken collarbone usually requires a sling or figure-eight splint to keep the area immobile for several weeks. In some cases, surgery may be required.
  • Most clavicle fractures heal within 4-8 weeks. Physical therapy may help with rehabilitation.

What Causes a Broken Collarbone?

Some people can break their clavicle without any trauma. These people usually have weak bone structure either because they were born with it (genetic cause) or from an acquired cause (such as osteoporosis or cancer).

Newborns

Occasionally during the delivery of an otherwise healthy baby, the forces involved in trying to deliver the baby from the mother can break the collarbone. This is the most common bone broken in babies is during delivery. This is usually detected in the hospital, and the baby recovers well.

Even more rarely, a physician may have to break the infant's collarbone in order to deliver the baby safely. This only occurs when a process known as shoulder dystocia develops. There are many other techniques available to overcome this, so it is rarely practiced today.

Children and Adolescents

The collarbone is the most commonly broken bone in childhood. These breaks are usually the result of falling directly on the shoulder or on an outstretched arm during play or sports. They can occasionally be the result of a direct blow to the collarbone, such as during tackling in football or being crosschecked during hockey or lacrosse.

Adults and the Elderly

Broken collarbones in adults can occur from the same sports activities that cause similar injuries in children but are usually associated with automobile accidents and falls. Occasionally, a patient that has a seizure will fracture the clavicle.

What Does a Broken Collarbone Feel Like?

When the collarbone actually breaks a pop or click can often be heard and felt, and this causes sudden, sharp, stabbing pain. When the affected arm is moved, grinding or clicking may be felt and the further the arm is moved away from the body the more it will hurt.

After the initial sharp pain, the area that is fractured will feel like a dull, constant ache that is made worse when the arm is moved or touched.

What Are the Symptoms of a Broken Collarbone?

  • A broken collarbone most often causes immediate pain in the area of the fracture.
  • Some people report hearing a snapping sound.
  • Most people tend to hold their arm close to their body and support it with their other hand. This avoids movement of the shoulder which would aggravate the pain. Despite the pain, some people, particularly younger athletes, can have a surprising range of motion in their arms following a broken collarbone.
  • The shoulder of the affected side is usually slumped downward and forward due to gravity.
  • If the clavicle is gently touched along its length, pain is usually greatest at one point, locating the break. Often a crunching feeling is noted over the break, known as crepitus.
  • The skin over the break often bulges outward and can be discolored a reddish-purple, indicating an early bruise.

What Is the First Aid Treatment for a Broken Collarbone?

If someone has been in an automobile accident or suffered a similar traumatic injury, and a broken collarbone is suspected:

  • Be cautious and do not move the person. There may be other injuries.
  • Wait for appropriately trained emergency medical services personnel to arrive unless the patient is still in danger if they are not moved.
  • If the patient must be moved, avoid movements of the neck, back, and injured collarbone as much as possible to avoid further injuries

If it is clear only a broken collarbone is involved, the most important treatment is pain relief.

  • Rest: The arm should be moved as little as possible.
  • Ice: An ice pack wrapped in a towel should be applied directly to the broken collarbone.
  • Medications: Aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), and acetaminophen (Tylenol) are effective over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers for adults; avoid aspirin use in children.
  • Sling: A homemade sling can be formed from a large handkerchief, or towel, or from the triangle bandage found in most first aid kits. Simply fold the handkerchief, or towel, in half to form a triangle. Then fold the triangle around the forearm with one pointy end toward the elbow and the other two ends can be tied around the neck. The elbow should be bent and supported by the sling across the chest.

When Should I See a Doctor for a Broken Collarbone?

Anyone with a suspected broken collarbone should be taken to see the doctor as soon as possible for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Going to the emergency department is recommended for anyone with a broken collarbone when the following conditions exist:

  • Other injuries 
  • Bone is poking through the skin or looks like it will poke through the skin
  • Associated numbness, tingling, discoloration, or pain in the arm is present
  • Person has  difficulty breathing
  • Injured area is rapidly swelling
  • Pain is severe

Which Types of Doctors Treat a Broken Collarbone?

The first doctor you may see when you suspect you have fractured your collarbone is an emergency medicine specialist in the emergency department of a hospital, or your primary care physician (a general practitioner, family practitioner, or internist; a child may see a pediatrician).

These doctors may make the initial diagnosis and then refer you to an orthopedist or orthopedic surgeon for further treatment (a doctor who specializes in injuries to the bones and joints).

How Is a Broken Collarbone Diagnosed?

The doctor will take a brief history to determine how the injury occurred. If necessary, a thorough physical exam will be conducted to evaluate for any other injuries.

  • Physical exam: Specifically, the shoulder will be touched and inspected to identify signs of a broken collarbone. The nerves in the arm will be tested to make sure no injury has occurred there. Also, the doctor will listen to the lungs to make sure they were not injured by the broken collar bone.
  • X-rays: An X-ray of the clavicle is usually ordered to determine what type of break occurred. Sometimes, the break can be very difficult to see on an X-ray, and several views of the shoulder may be needed. The doctor usually can show the patient the fracture on the X-ray.
  • CT scans: In rare cases, a CT scan needs to be performed to identify the fracture.

Recently, ultrasound has been used in children to diagnose clavicle fractures.

What Is the Treatment a Broken Collarbone?

Treatment for a broken collarbone may include the following:

  • Sling: The vast majority of collarbone fractures can be treated with a simple sling. Sometimes a swath is wrapped around the sling to hold it to the body. Occasionally a figure-eight splint is used. This wraps around both shoulders and the neck to hold the shoulders back and up. Either method is an appropriate treatment for the broken collarbone. Patients will be instructed to wear the sling at all times until there is no further pain with movement. This is usually 2-4 weeks for children and 4-8 weeks for adults. Commercially available slings can also be used. A cast or brace usually is not necessary.
  • Rest: Patients will also be instructed to avoid the potential for further injury during this time.
  • Pain medications: Some patients may take OTC pain medicine, but others might require prescription pain medication.
  • Follow-up: Follow up with a healthcare professional until the patient is pain-free; a few patients may require some rehabilitation.

Clavicle fractures will heal properly with standard treatment. But, rarely, people may have problems with fractures near the shoulder end of the clavicle. These people are often referred to an orthopedic surgeon within 2-3 days after breaking their collarbone. Some may require surgery.

Will You Need Surgery for a Broken Collarbone?

Surgical treatment is required in only about 5%-10% of all clavicle fractures. One or more of the following conditions may require surgical repair of the clavicle:

  • Multiple fractures in one clavicle
  • Clavicle shortening due to bone loss (for example, bone is shattered)
  • Open fracture of the clavicle (clavicle breaks through the skin)
  • Clavicle break that involves vascular or nerve structures
  • Nonunion of bone (bone pieces fail to heal together)
  • Fractures that interfere with normal joint function (usually the acriomio-clavicular joint)

What Is the Recovery Time for a Broken Collarbone?

After the initial visit and treatment, people with broken collarbones are seen by their doctor or healthcare professional in about 1 week to check on their progress, and to determine if any complications have occurred. They are instructed to avoid contact sports for at least 6 weeks following the initial injury; some require additional time before they can return to "normal" activities.

If a sling or figure-of-eight bandage is used, follow your healthcare professional's instructions on how long to use these devices for the broken collarbone to heal.

Over-the-counter pain medications and icing of the injured area may continue to be used to relieve discomfort.

If the bone does not seem to be healing on its own surgery might be needed. If the bone is not healing correctly and causing problems with the range of motion of the shoulder physical therapy may be prescribed.

What Is the Prognosis for a Broken Collarbone?

  • Many young athletes are able to resume playing their sport within 6-8 weeks of the initial injury.
  • Occasionally, a bony prominence lasts in the area of the original break.
  • The most common complication is the failure of the bone to heal properly, but this is rare.
  • Pain lasting after 6-8 weeks should prompt a visit to a doctor (preferably an orthopedist) to check on the progress of the healing bone.
  • In general, older people take longer to heal than younger people, and still may not be completely healed as long as 12 weeks after the original injury.
  • Patients that require surgery usually do well, but complications of infection, non-union of bone, neurologic problems, and joint problems may occur.

How Can You Prevent a Broken Collarbone?

Proper safety equipment during organized sports activity can reduce the risk of broken collarbones. Specifically, the use of shoulder pads during football, hockey, lacrosse, and other similar activities is recommended.

Always wear your seatbelt when driving or riding in a vehicle.

Reviewed on 8/11/2022
References
Clavicle Fractures. Medscape. Updated: Jan 14, 2019.
<https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/92429-overview>

Acromioclavicular Joint Separations. Medscape. Updated: Oct 22, 2018.
lt;https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/92337-overview>