A fractured clavicle is a common sports injury that is often the result of a direct impact to the clavicle (collarbone), the upper arm and shoulder or a fall on an outstretched arm. The clavicle, or collarbone, is easy to see or feel on most people. This long bone runs from the top of the sternum laterally to the top of the humerus and is part of the shoulder girdle.
Signs and Symptoms of Clavicle Fracture
Pain and an inability to raise the arm is one sign of a shoulder fracture. The pain may be moderate or severe and may accompany redness and bruising. Some fractures are obvious because the bones in the should simply look out of place. The diagnosis (and severity) is made with an X-ray.
Treating Clavicle Fractures
The first line of treatment is to realign the bones so they can heal in the correct position. Healing occurs while the bones of the clavicle and arm are held in place with a strap or sling. Surgery is sometimes needed if the bones are severely displaced or if an athlete is anxious to return to sports quickly.
Fractures of the clavicle generally heal without surgical intervention once the bones are properly aligned. Some new surgical techniques can be used to improve bone stability and speed healing in athletes who hope to return to sports sooner. One treatment technique involves screwing a small titanium plate to the collarbone over the fracture site to hold the collarbone in place as the fracture heals. This method provides added support and stability and helps maintain alignment while the bones fuse together naturally.
This type of procedure is generally simple and the patient goes home the same day. The plate is often left in place after healing.
With this type of surgical intervention, athletes can often return to activity sooner than if they let the fracture heal naturally. In general, a clavicle fracture heals in six to eight weeks. With the insertion of a plate healing may occur in about four weeks.
Clavicle Fracture Rehab Exercises
Once the bones have fused and the fracture has healed, physical therapy exercises are prescribed. These exercises begin with simple range of motion exercises and progress to building strength and restore function. A complete return to sport will depend upon the severity of the fracture and the rate of healing.
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Sometimes preventing common sports injuries is beyond our control, but many times sports injuries are preventable. Some injuries, we bring on ourselves because we’re not conditioned for the activity. Work out daily and get double benefit — enjoy your weekend activities and garner the health benefits. Every workout should start with a gentle warm-up to prevent common sports injuries. Getting warmed up increases blood flow to the muscles, gets you more flexible, and could decrease injuries. Overuse injuries are common and preventable, Don’t come out and hit the ball for an hour after not playing for a while., Whether it’s hiking, running, or team sports, do some “pre-participation stretching” first by lightly working the relevant muscle groups before the activity. And learn to recognize when you’ve already left it all on the field. Stop when you are fatigued, Muscle fatigue takes away all your protective mechanisms and really increases your risk of all injuries.
Professional athletes often seek better, newer treatments outside the teams facility. We have treated players from the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and the PGA. Of course we can't list the name of the players for security reasons but below is a list of the teams that they play for. And yes we have to treat the players from teams opposing our home town favorites, Sorry Guys. Go CARDS
