Collar Bone

**Shorey** · 02-23-2007, 04:54 AM

A non maggot broke his collar bone last weekend. My understanding is that it's a complete break.

We're meant to be going skiing later in March (17th) - I appreciate every case is different, but he's getting really negative messages from the docs about going skiing in March.

Any of you know roughly how long a repair takes in a healthy mid thirties male, and whether skiing from the 17th March is doable?

Thanks

**Vinman** · 02-23-2007, 07:34 AM

4-6 wks is the standard healing time for a clavicle fracture.

**drmark** · 02-23-2007, 08:43 AM

Its a tough one to get ready by Mar 17. We usually put a plate on that fracture, nowadays.

Although the doctor's party line is that you should wait six weeks, I had had many patients who didn't do what I said and returned to motocross or cycling is two weeks.

Here is a little more on the subject

http://sandersclinic.net/shlder_acjoint.html

**Shorey** · 02-23-2007, 10:03 AM

Thank you very much guys. I've passed this on - needless to say he's still a bit down about his prospects.

**Hayduke** · 02-23-2007, 10:05 AM

Cool site you've got there doc. Thanks for the info.

**river ridge** · 02-23-2007, 02:10 PM

i've recently broke my collarbone and was advised 6 wks. but, here's my question: where can i buy a clavicle brace that has front (vs back) adjustmets and the straps are no more than 1" thick?

**drmark** · 02-23-2007, 03:00 PM

my patients have had no use for clavicle braces. Most, in the end, will say that they were a waste of money.

**BakerBomber79** · 02-23-2007, 06:43 PM

I broke my collar bone in August and it didn't really fuse for three months. It was a similar break to your xray so I doubt you'll be ready to go by mid-March. I remember reading all about the 4-6 week timeframe and then being all freaked out because mine took so long to heal but the truth is most people I actually talked to said it took a lot longer than 4-6 weeks. I think that maybe for one that isn't very displaced whereas yours is and mine was. Thing is, the bone has to regrow in the space, it doesn't just pull itself together. I talked to one guy who said it took 6 months for his to fuse. I'm six months out now and I'm fine. I have a little bump and shoulder range of motion is crunchy but pretty much ok. Don't panic if it takes a while to heal, just give it time.

**Vinman** · 02-23-2007, 06:49 PM

Dr. Mark might have better info, but in my experience most clavicle fractures will heal in the ~6wk time frame. The clavicle usually heals up fine the majority of the time. But just like you I know one or two peeps who did not heal in the standar time frame and needed several months plus a bone stimulator.

**drmark** · 02-23-2007, 09:37 PM

A multicenter study was done in Canada and reported in last month's Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (American Edition). This is the flagship orthopaedic surgery publicaton.

The authors concluded that patients with manunited collar bones (those nasty bumps) have diminished function of that shoulder in a signifigant number of cases.

The operated cases do not have these problems. Current technology allows an easy and sucessful osteosynthesis of the clavicle, not available in years past.

So, in displaced fractures in active people surgical treatment was clearly better at this point in time.

**Saturnine** · 03-04-2007, 10:21 PM

I broke my clavicle January 19th. It takes 12 weeks for the fucker to be fuilly healed. Any less, and you run the risk of rebreaking it, which REALLY. FUCKING. SUCKS. as your friend probably found out the first time.

whoever said two weeks is wrong wrong wrong. I couldn't even move my arm after two weeks.

**hop** · 03-04-2007, 10:40 PM

Hrm, a few years back I broke mine in a spectacular scoring effort while playing ultimate frisbee. I was sea kayaking four weeks later, and skiing full-on after 8 weeks. Never had surgery but I still have a bump on my shoulder to show for it. I still have 100% use of the shoulder.

**StuntCok** · 03-06-2007, 11:47 PM

I broke my collarbone 5 weeks ago, had the surgery 4 weeks ago and have full range of motion at the moment. It is still weak and a bit sore but it gets better by the day. I would say to anyone who brakes this bone, fuck waiting, go for the surgery. With the bone fragments closer together it takes a lot less time for them to fuse.

**deliberate** · 03-07-2007, 12:05 AM

I broke mine a little over a year ago skateboarding (poorly, obviously) in an apartment building hallway. I was in denial for three days, hoping it was bruised. It wasn't until I noticed the bone protruding (not breaking skin) when I rotated my arm that I realized it was broke and I went to the hospital. It was seriously fucked up, most likely even worse because I kept moving it trying to find a way to sleep and ended up face down with my arm over my head. It was broken into 4 different pieces (not touching, some overlapping), and the doctor had 4 other people look at the x-ray. It took me months to heal, and it still hurts sometimes (1 year later) when a lot of stress is on it. I now have a golfball size lump.

Regardless, it is amazing how the human body can heal itself. However, if I was your friend I would not go skiing 2 weeks after a break.

**drmark** · 03-07-2007, 08:20 AM

Deliberate's collar bone story is exactly the same as mine, except, that I got thrown off my road bike. After 7 years, it still hurts.

A multicenter prospective study published in the JBJS has proven that for displaced fx of the clavicle, operative treatment with a plate is signifigantly superior in terms of shoulder function.

The best appliance is the Accumed titanium precountoured plate. Our patients are allowed full motion from the day of surgery. Unfortunately some guys take it a bit far and have raced a few days later. So far, so good, but one should avoid crazy things until their bones have healed.

**Jer** · 03-07-2007, 10:38 AM

I think everyone's different and it depends on the break, but I'll add my experience anyway:

I completely broke my collarbone, didn't have any surgery and was back on my bike (that's how I broke it in the first place) in a little under four weeks. I still have the little bump on the bone, but never experienced any other problems (limited range of motion, re-brake). Didn't hurt when I broke it, either. I didn't even realise anything was wrong until I went to pick up my bike and my left arm didn't work.

So, yeah I think skiing by the 17th is definetly possible.