Clavicle: fracture with displacement - serious, but not fatal

In the human body there are 206 bones (in an adult). All bones are firm and resistant to impact, but fragile enough. Among them, and the clavicle, a fracture (with a shift in particular) which - a nasty thing and can lead to serious and menacing consequences. In this case, such a trauma happens quite often. Most of all the danger of fracture of this bone is exposed to sportsmen and children: the first because of the type of occupation, the second because of unchanged coordination, and therefore fall much more often adults.

Causes of clavicular fractures

They are of two kinds. First, the result of a blow to the shoulder. With sufficient strength and a specific place of hit, it is the collarbone that suffers. A fracture with displacement is the most probable result. And it can happen even splitting the bone with the fragments. The second reason is an unsuccessful fall on the elbow, the straight arm or the outer side of the forearm. Sharp load takes on a clavicle, a fracture with a shift is almost guaranteed. Such falls are most often caused by ice, so it is in winter that traumatology is full of victims with clavicular fractures.

Symptoms of a broken clavicle

First of all, it is, of course, pain, because of which the hand moves in a restrained manner, and some movements become inaccessible. The shoulder in the fracture site swells, possibly the formation of a bruise (hematoma), if a bleeding occurs under the skin. The position of the shoulder takes the wrong shape: it falls and moves forward. Instinctively, a person begins to support the elbow with a healthy hand and press it to the body. The appearance and the collarbone itself changes: the fracture with the displacement deforms it, while the shoulder-line is shortened.

Treatment of trauma

First of all, as with any other fracture, you need a fixation. At the very least, the injured hand is suspended on a scarf, kerchief or any other piece of material. It is better, however, not to limit this and to attach the limb to the body in order to reduce the load on the broken bone and prevent the displacement from increasing. Further actions will be taken by a trauma doctor.

In most cases, when there was a fracture of the clavicle with an offset, the treatment is to return the wreckage to its original location. This is done under local anesthesia. Since it is difficult to keep them in the desired position because of muscle spasms, further special arrangements for rigid fixation, in particular the so-called Delbe rings, must be used later. If the bias in the trauma was avoided, enough of the usual bandages. Within a month, the clavicle will grow together.

Severe fractures

If you are unlucky and you have a broken clavicle with a bias, the operation will be needed only if the nerve endings are touched or clamped with debris. Another reason for the surgeon's intervention may be the unfortunate location of the wreckage: when refilled, they can tear the skin or nerves and vessels. And the third case - when the displacement can not be corrected, and the collarbone remains deformed. And it's not just a cosmetic defect: such deformations will interfere with the full movement of the hand. Naturally, the operation will be necessary and with open forms of fractures.

In general, fracture of the collarbone is a painful and unpleasant thing, but still not fatal. Even in difficult cases it is treated up to a month and a half. However, a warning is always better than treatment. And if you are not an athlete, do not give your collarbone a chance to break at least by wearing reliable, non-slippery shoes in the winter.