Broken bones can be a hard thing to deal with and they can also be quite painful if left untreated. Here is everything you need to know about collarbones, how they can get broken, and when to see a shoulder surgeon.

Causes Of Broken Collarbone

The collarbone or clavicle is the bone right under your neck. It is the branched bone that protrudes outwards and you can see the outline of it clearly. A broken collarbone or broken clavicle can be caused by a lot of things. It can be something as simple as a fracture or an accident. Here are some of the common causes of a broken or fractured collarbone.

Injury Of The Shoulder

More often than not, a clavicle injury is caused by a blow to the shoulder. The shoulder is a very important joint of the body and some part of it is also connected to the clavicle. If your shoulder suffers from a serious injury, then it’s quite likely for the collarbone to be fractured, broken, or injured as well.

Dislocation Of The Bone

Another common cause of a broken collarbone is dislocation of the bone. This can be the dislocation of the shoulder or the clavicle itself. There can be many reasons why the bone is dislocated. One of the common causes of dislocation can be the popping of the bone from the joint because of a huge impact of force. It can also be due to jerks to the bone, which can cause serious dislocation of the bone.

An Accident

An accident, which causes your neck and shoulder to be seriously injured can also lead to a broken collarbone. The accident can be of any nature, but the bottom line is that the collarbone is not strong enough to endure the impact of force caused by the accident and this can cause the bone to break and shatter.

Symptoms Of Broken Collarbone

Here are some symptoms and signs that your collarbone might be broken or fractured.

Immense Pain

This one goes without saying. Pain is probably the first thing you will feel when you break a bone and your collarbone is no different. You will feel immense pain in the area around your neck and shoulder and if the injury is a lot worse, then the pain will radiate from the neck and down to your arm.

Physical Appearance Of The Bone

Since the clavicle is a very easy bone to spot on your neck, so is the damage and injury. You can physically see the line where the bone is broken or fractured. There will be crookedness in the appearance of the bone when it is protruded and there might be swelling and some sort of bruising on the skin as well.

Inability To Move Neck And Shoulder

If your clavicle is broken, then you will be unable to move your neck and shoulder freely. As mentioned before, the clavicle is connected with the shoulder and if some part of the collarbone is broken or injured, then it will be reflected in the movement of the shoulder as well. You will not be able to roll or move your neck and shoulder as normal.

Treatment For Broken Collarbone

Here are some treatment options for a broken clavicle.

• You can give your arm some rest and try to do physical therapy on a regular basis. This will help to heal your collarbone quickly.
• An arm sling works wonders for people who have a serious collarbone injury. It keeps your arm in place and prevents unnecessary movement.
• Painkillers will help to alleviate the pain of the injury, but make sure that you are taking medications that your doctor has prescribed you.
• There are also surgical procedures that can help to fuse the collarbone back together. One of them is internal fixation, in which the broken bones are realigned from the inside and then fused together.

Conclusion

There you have it! Now you know everything there is to broken collarbones. You can explore different treatment options, depending on the severity of your injury, and see what works best for you. If there is severe pain, go to an orthopedic surgeon Woodbridge immediately for advice and treatment.