“I THINK I’VE BROKEN MY COLLARBONE! WHAT SHOULD I DO? “
Although there are many injuries that could occur around the collarbone, a fracture of the clavicle (collarbone) is quite common. A clavicle fracture is often very painful – immediately limiting arm movement. Any movement may be associated with a painful ‘grinding’ noise.
The shoulder may also sag lower than the uninjured side and there is often a visible deformity over the fracture, with swelling and pain in the area.
WAHT DOES SURGERY INVOLVE AND WHAT ARE THE RISKS?
Surgery consists of using a plate and screws to stabilize the broken bone. This measure reduces excessive movement and pain at the fracture, which in turn encourages bone healing and improves shoulder and arm movement. This allows early resumption of activity.
When surgery is agreed upon as the best course of care, Dr. Maina will admit you and may request several baseline blood investigations and radiographs to help rule out other injuries and/or determine your fitness for surgery.
You will be asked not to eat or drink anything for at least six hours before your procedure starts. Before the procedure, you will meet two other members of the team: your anaesthetist and your physiotherapist. While the anaesthetist will discuss pain management during and after surgery, the physio will conduct an interview and she/he will educate you on your unique postoperative rehabilitation plan.
Aside from complications that generally accompany any surgical procedure (pain, anaesthetic risks, etc.), the complications relating to surgery for collarbone fractures comprise mostly of the risk of delayed fracture healing, numbness of the skin over the incision area and, later on, potential irritation from a prominent plate and screws.
You may discuss whether you’d prefer to have the implants (plate and screws) removed if the latter occurs. This second procedure is usually only considered after healing has been confirmed and you have fully recovered from your injury(ies).
Surgical care and rehabilitation is tailored to your specific individual, your unique injury pattern and medical condition(s).
WHAT DOES SURGERY INVOLVE AND WHAT ARE THE RISKS?
Surgery consists of using a plate and screws to stabilize the broken bone. This measure reduces excessive movement and pain at the fracture, which in turn encourages bone healing and improves shoulder and arm movement. This allows early resumption of activity.
When surgery is agreed upon as the best course of care, Dr. Maina will admit you and may request several baseline blood investigations and radiographs to help rule out other injuries and/or determine your fitness for surgery.
You will be asked not to eat or drink anything for at least six hours before your procedure starts. Before the procedure, you will meet two other members of the team: your anaesthetist and your physiotherapist. While the anaesthetist will discuss pain management during and after surgery, the physio will conduct an interview and she/he will educate you on your unique postoperative rehabilitation plan.
Aside from complications that generally accompany any surgical procedure (pain, anaesthetic risks, etc.), the complications relating to surgery for collarbone fractures comprise mostly of the risk of delayed fracture healing, numbness of the skin over the incision area and, later on, potential irritation from a prominent plate and screws.
You may discuss whether you’d prefer to have the implants (plate and screws) removed if the latter occurs. This second procedure is usually only considered after healing has been confirmed and you have fully recovered from your injury(ies).
Surgical care and rehabilitation is tailored to your specific individual, your unique injury pattern and medical condition(s).
WHAT WILL MY FUTURE IN SPORTS LOOK LIKE AFTER A CLAVICLE FRACTURE?
You can expect to begin to return to regular activity from 6 weeks after your injury, and you may safely resume sport approximately 3 months or more from the date of your injury.
Surgery is considered to accelerate a return to sports, so this estimated recovery time may be shortened.
Dr Anne Maina
Specialist Orthopaedic surgeon
MBBCh (Wits), FC Orth (SA), MMed Ortho (Wits)
