Oct 26, 2018

Dr. Miller: You have a broken collarbone or a fractured clavicle? Do you need to have the treated surgically or can it heal naturally?

Announcer: Access to our experts with in-depth information about the biggest health issues facing you today. "The Specialists" with Dr. Tom Miller is on the Scope.

Dr. Miller: I'm here Dr. Bruce Thomas. He is an orthopedic surgeon here at the University of Utah in the Department of Orthopedics. Bruce, tell the states a fiddling bit nearly fractured clavicles.

Dr. Thomas: Fractured clavicles are a mutual sports injury, men more women, and the treatment of it has evolved over the years. Traditionally, many of them were treated without surgery and the rate of non-healing was well-nigh 3%.

Dr. Miller: Before nosotros go into that, how does one fracture a clavicle or bust the collarbone as they say on the athletic field?

Dr. Thomas: Usually, information technology'southward a autumn to the shoulder.

Dr. Miller: Outstretched hand, that sort of thing?

Dr. Thomas: Mostly, not outstretched. More to the betoken of the shoulder and occasionally from blunt trauma. But usually, it's a fall to the shoulder or a side impact.

Dr. Miller: More often than not seen in contact sports like football?

Dr. Thomas: Contact sports, yous see it in soccer and skiing as well. The contact with the ground is usually the contact. Most of the collarbone fractures occur in the shaft and in the mid portion of information technology and the smaller per centum will occur way out towards the finish of the clavicle most the shoulder. Those require treatment near uniformly. The ones in the shaft, less, less uniform crave handling.

Dr. Miller: So does it matter what type of an athlete you are? Might you consider surgery to become back into the playing field sooner in some cases?

Dr. Thomas: They're finding it definitely affects the biomechanics. Traditionally, yous would accept ii.5 centimeters of shortening earlier you would consider surgery and now, the number is about 1 centimeter. And keeping that strut at the right length helps in the position of your shoulder and the movement of your shoulder blade.

Dr. Miller: So if it doesn't heal appropriately or if the distance between the fracture is, you know, at that place is a gap I judge, then y'all could lose function or sacrifice some office in the shoulder?

Dr. Thomas: You could. Without a squeamish, potent strut at that place equally yous load the shoulder, you lot'll feel weakness. Merely interestingly, the older literature shows that half of the patients that take a non-marriage don't have a lot of symptoms. Only that could be depending on what their action is.

Dr. Miller: What their action level is. And then kind of who you are matters in terms of whether you might consider surgery. So I guess information technology's a bit of a personal decision and you every bit the orthopedic surgeon explain that to the patient.

Dr. Thomas: That'southward truthful. And what your demands are brand a big deviation on whether you need surgery or not.

Dr. Miller: And then how do you repair the clavicle? Do y'all put a plate in or do you merely . . . I mean, information technology's kind of hard to put a cast on the shoulder, apparently.

Dr. Thomas: That's true. And then, the hardware serves as an internal bandage and supports the bone and keeps it aligned while information technology heals. And nigh ordinarily is used a plate, either on the acme of the collarbone or on the front of the collarbone.

Dr. Miller: And you lot go out that in after the period of healing?

Dr. Thomas: On the meridian, eventually the bone heals, the swelling goes away. And on peak, in that location's not much tissue between the collarbone and the peel. And those are kind of prominent and people will feel them with their seatbelts or backpacks. And so if the plate is on top, it'south more than likely to be removed afterwards.

Dr. Miller: So would you say that anyone who has a clavicular fracture should probably come across an orthopedic surgeon and talk over the reason for her need for surgery or healing?

Dr. Thomas: I think that'due south a great rule and specially if you're in high demand sports or heavy activities, making certain that your strut is the right length and ensuring healing is of import.

Dr. Miller: One time you fracture a clavicle, whether it'south plated or not, how long is the menstruum of healing, generally?

Dr. Thomas: Information technology varies, obviously. In young children, it volition very chop-chop, four to 6 weeks. Adults, 6 to eight weeks, normally, and a minor number up to 12 weeks.

Dr. Miller: And and then physical therapy, is that any part of the rehabilitation of the shoulder or clavicle, rather?

Dr. Thomas: It certainly is. People tend to get stiff when yous immobilize them or subsequently a surgery. And as the fracture becomes more stable, early move helps reduce the corporeality of stiffness and aids people getting dorsum to their activities quicker.

Dr. Miller: Then generally, somebody who's been injured in a sports-related activity or at piece of work, they would know if they had a fracture. I hateful information technology's painful, information technology's prominent. You can see the changes considering the bone is so close to the skin.

Dr. Thomas: That's true. About of the time, they know instantly and pretty speedily, everyone around them tin tell as well.

Dr. Miller: And then bottom line, then, for our listeners would be that if you have a clavicle fracture, called the collarbone in everyday usage, simply if yous have a fracture, you should probably encounter an orthopedic surgeon and have that evaluated because surgery might assist yous in healing. And a sure pct of patients will go on to surgery and have a good result.

Dr. Thomas: That's true.

Announcer: Have a question about a medical procedure? Want to learn more nigh a health condition? With over two,000 interviews with our physicians and specialists, there'southward a pretty good chance you'll find what you want to know. Check it out at TheScopeRadio.com.


updated: October 26, 2018
originally published: January fifteen, 2017

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