Broken Collarbone — Aftercare

Health Info
Jul 10, 2017 · 3 min read

The collarbones are bones that lie horizontally below your tonsil; they are thin, long and situated aligned with your shoulders. It is also known as the clavicle. A human has two collarbones on each side and they are essential in aligning the shoulders. The cause of a broken collarbone can be due to reasons like breaking the fall with arms outstretched or falling on the arm; it is also the result of bike or care accidents. There are end number of things that can cause a fractured collarbone and in the case you experience any pain on the bone, an orthopedist should be consulted.

The injury is common in teen and children because the bone only becomes resilient when one reaches adulthood.

When an Orthopedist Consultation is Required

The symptoms of the fracture can be from mild to severe and it is recommended that in any case consulting a bone doctor is the best thing to do as he or she can give you the right diagnostic of the condition. The symptoms of mild break can be a pain in the region where the bone is broken, a sound that is similar to a crack when you lift the arm, pain moving the arm, swelling on the collarbone.

The symptoms of a more severe break can be deformed appearance of the collarbone, tingling sensation in the fingers or decreased sensation in the arm or finger.

How to go about the Treatment?

Placing an ice pack can relieve pain, but it should not be placed directly on the skin as it could harm the skin. On the first day keep the ice pack on for 20 minutes of every hour while you are awake and then on the few days that follow reduce it to 20 minutes every three to four hours.

Pain medicines can also be administered but it should be taken with caution and with the consultation of your doctor, in the case you have a heart problem, high blood pressure, ulcer, internal bleeding or kidney disease then consultation of the doctor becomes absolutely paramount before taking any pain medication.

Don’t go overboard with the medication, follow the instruction or prescription on the bottle or by the doctor. Medication should be avoided in the 24 hours after the accident as it can cause bleeding. Some medication cannot be given to children and an orthopedist should be consulted.

Recovery Period

The recovery period of a broken collarbone is usually 6–8 weeks in adults, but the duration can differ slightly depending on the physicality and diet of different individuals; the recovery period in kids is less due to the fact that their bones are still soft and heals faster; the recovery period is 3–6 weeks.

But, it does not mean that your arm will be fully functional by then, it can easily take the same period to retain strength back in your arm.

Conclusion

Orthopedic doctors in Hyderabad advises that with the help of pillows you can keep your hand upright, it is important that your hand is relaxed and take medication if the pain persists. It is advised that even after a few weeks after you have healed you do not play any contact sports like football, basketball, etc. The more you leave your arm hanging freely the better; don’t rest the arm on chair, pillow, table, etc.

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