Clavicle Fracture Orthopedic Treatment
A clavicle fracture, or broken collarbone, is a common shoulder injury for people of all ages. From children falling out of trees to athletes and the elderly, almost anyone can suffer a fractured clavicle. The treatment depends on the location of the fracture and the extent of the bone damage. At DOCS Health, our orthopedic physicians and surgeons offer advanced clavicle fracture orthopedic treatment at our medical center in Los Angeles.
Causes and Symptoms of Broken Collarbones
The clavicle, or collarbone, attaches the ribcage and sternum to the shoulder. It is also part of one of the shoulder joints, the acromioclavicular joint. Clavicle fractures commonly occur due a hard impact to the shoulder or chest. This can be a fall, car accident or sports injury. Broken collarbones are common occurrences in contact sports, like football. The fractures can be only cracks in the bone or complete breaks. Most complete breaks occur in the middle of the bone. Severe clavicle fractures can shatter the bone into multiple pieces.
A clavicle fracture can have an impact on your shoulder and arm function. Symptoms of a broken collarbone include:
- Severe pain
- Shoulder may droop in a forward direction
- Difficulty using arm or shoulder
- A lump on the chest over the fracture
- Inability to lift associated arm
- Bruising and swelling
Treatment for a broken collarbone depends on the severity of the break. If it is only a cracked bone or the bones align, many clavicle fractures can be treated by immobilizing the arm with a sling while it heals. More complex or severe fractures may require surgery to repair and stabilize the clavicle internally. This requires an open reduction and stabilization with plates or screws, followed by rehabilitation.
If you suffer a broken collarbone, contact our team at DOCS Health. We offer advanced options in clavicle fracture orthopedic treatment at our medical clinic in Los Angeles.
Doctors who treat this condition
Unless otherwise indicated, the physician is a member of DOCS Health Medical Group and has medical staff privileges at DOCS Surgery Center, DOCS Surgical Hospital, or both. Physicians denoted with an asterisk (*) are independent physicians who are not part of DOCS Health Medical Group, but do have medical staff privileges at DOCS Surgery Center, DOCS Surgical Hospital, or both.