Accidents Causing Fractured Clavicle: What Are the Treatment Options If It Happens?

A fractured clavicle causes severe pain and difficulty moving. You may notice bruising, tenderness when touched, visible abnormal protrusion, or bone penetrating through the skin in some cases. This requires medical attention immediately.
Most cases result from accidents such as falls from height or road accidents that directly impact the collarbone, or from indirect fractures caused by falling and using the arm to break the fall. The force is transmitted through to the clavicle, leading to a fractured clavicle.
Treatment involves using an arm sling combined with pain medication to reduce movement in the collarbone area, along with physical therapy to prevent frozen shoulder.
Some cases may require surgery, such as when the bone breaks into multiple pieces or when the fractured clavicle pierces through the skin (open fracture).

Accidents can happen at any time. Sometimes, they happen unexpectedly and potentially cause a fractured clavicle. This can result from severe impact to the shoulder area or falling and using the arm to break the fall. Collarbone fractures are commonly seen in orthopedic practice. What causes them? How serious are they? And what treatment options are available? This article has all the answers.

Table of Contents

Understanding the Collarbone

The collarbone (clavicle) is a long, curved bone connecting the breastbone (sternum) to the shoulder blade (scapula). It links the arm to the body and has an “S” shape that adds strength to the body’s structure.

The importance of the collarbone lies in supporting the shoulder joints and arms, distributing force from the arm to the body, and protecting vital blood vessels and nerves located beneath it. If injured, such as through a fracture, it affects arm movement and may impact surrounding structures.

What are Fractured Clavicle Symptoms?

You can observe the following symptoms when the clavicle is fractured:

Severe pain making arm movement difficult
Bruising, blood pooling, with clear tenderness when pressed
Visible bone displacement with obvious abnormal protrusion

In some cases, the bone may penetrate through the skin. That’s because the collarbone stays relatively close to the skin with minimal tissue coverage

What Causes a Fractured Clavicle?

Collarbone fractures can result from both direct and indirect causes:

Direct causes: Accidents or injuries involving direct impact to the collarbone, such as falls from height, slips, or road accidents.

Indirect causes: Accidents that don’t directly impact the collarbone but may generate radiating force from the arm or shoulder, such as falling from height with shoulder impact and its force being transmitted through to the collarbone. If strong enough, the force can cause a fractured clavicle.

Is Fractured Clavicle Dangerous?

Generally, a fractured clavicle doesn’t pose life-threatening dangers. However, if the bone significantly fractures and displaces, it may affect nearby blood vessels and nerves, potentially causing weakness, severe pain, and difficulty moving the arm. Without proper treatment, the bone may penetrate through the skin, leading to infection. The bone may also heal in an incorrect position, affecting long-term arm function.

Initial Diagnoses for Fractured Clavicle

Initial diagnoses for fractured clavicles involve history taking, physical examination, and diagnostic testing.

Medical history taking: The orthopedist will take the medical history of the patients, who typically have a history of accidents to the shoulder or arm such as falling or receiving a strong impact. Patients also experience immediate pain which is usually severe. They may hear the bone breaking and can clearly identify the location. Additionally, the orthopedist may inquire about other injuries like breathing difficulties, numbness, or weakness.

Physical examination:

Bruising or deformity in the collarbone area will be visible. The skin area is examined for open wounds
Palpation will be performed to locate tender points and deformity
The shoulder may appear lower, or bone protrusion may be clearly visible if the bone has displaced

X-ray imaging: This diagnostic method is used to confirm collarbone fractures, help identify the fracture location and severity, and assist in surgical decision-making such as cases with multiple bone fragments or excessive displacement. In complex cases or when injury to nearby structures like blood vessels or nerves is suspected, a CT scan may be additionally required.

Fractured Clavicle Treatment

Although bones can naturally heal themselves, when a fractured clavicle occurs, proper first aid is necessary, followed by immediate medical treatment to prevent serious complications.

1. First aid basics

First aid for a fractured clavicle is crucial for reducing pain and preventing further injury. The steps are as follows:

Stop activities Immediately: If one has an accident and suspects a fractured clavicle, stop all activities and avoid moving the injured area.
Support the arm: Use cloth or elastic bandage to create a triangular sling securing the arm to the chest to reduce collarbone movement. This method helps reduce pain and prevents displacement of the fractured bone.
Apply cold compress: Place a cold cloth or a cooling gel on the swollen and painful area to reduce the symptoms. Apply for 15-20 minutes. Avoid direct ice contact with the skin.
Minimize movement: Avoid moving the injured arm or shoulder to prevent worsening the fracture. Stay in the most comfortable position possible.
Provide pain relief: Take paracetamol or follow an orthopedist‘s recommendations to reduce pain while awaiting treatment.
Transport to hospital: The injured person should see an orthopedist at once for diagnosis such as X-ray imaging to assess the fracture location and severity and for further treatment.

2. Treatment by physicians

Fractured clavicle treatment methods vary according to fracture severity, or may involve multiple treatment approaches:

Non-surgical treatment

If the bone has minimal displacement and the fracture isn’t complex, orthopedists will treat the fractured clavicle without surgery by recommending wearing an arm sling or clavicle brace for approximately 4-6 weeks. Bone healing will be monitored through periodic X-rays. Pain medication can be taken if needed. If pain doesn’t improve or numbness and weakness develop, see an orthopedist immediately.

Surgical treatment

Indications for surgery

Severely displaced fracture: This prevents proper bone healing, potentially resulting in a nonunion fracture that requires surgery.
Comminuted fracture: In some cases where the bone breaks into many small pieces, natural healing isn’t possible.
Nonunion: Surgery is needed when bones cannot heal naturally after non-surgical treatment.
Malunion: Bones heal but in incorrect positions, causing movement problems or abnormal appearance.
Associated injuries: There are nerve or blood vessel damages in the fracture area requiring urgent repair

Additional indications may apply depending on the orthopedist‘s judgment and patient needs. Surgeons will realign the bones and secure them with metal hardware. Patients must wear an arm sling and have periodic X-ray follow-ups, similar to non-surgical treatment.

Physical therapy

Patients should perform stretching exercises for the elbow, wrist, and fingers to prevent joint stiffness due to arm sling use. For shoulder movement, move only as much as it doesn’t cause pain initially before gradually increasing movement as pain improves. Practices should follow the physician’s recommendations.

Can a Fractured Clavicle Heal on Its Own?

Most fractured clavicles don’t require surgery if there’s minimal displacement from the original position, as bones can naturally heal themselves with appropriate treatment. With improper treatment, complications may occur, such as malunion, nonunion, blood vessel and nerve injury, affecting future function.

Potential Complications of Fractured Clavicle

Complications that may arise from collarbone fractures include nonunion, malunion, blood vessel and nerve injury, abnormal shoulder function, frozen shoulder, or chronic pain from nonunion.

The Perks of Treating Fractured Clavicle at kdms Hospital

kdms Hospital provides comprehensive fractured clavicle treatment from diagnosis and patient acknowledgement about the advantages and disadvantages of various treatment options to making appropriate treatment decisions together, along with physical therapy programs to reduce potential complications such as frozen shoulder.

Treatment is performed by a specialized medical team experienced in treating bones and joints of the shoulder, whether fractured, displaced, or dislocated shoulder. We understand patient symptoms and make decisions collaboratively between patients and orthopedists to find the most appropriate treatment method. We provide guidance on both surgical and non-surgical treatment options, explaining how each method differs in advantages and disadvantages. Most importantly, we never push patients toward unnecessary treatments.

In Summary

Fractured clavicles result from impact forces, such as falling from height or sports collisions, and can occur in all ages and genders. Treatment includes both surgical and non-surgical options, depending on injury severity. Watch for complications such as blood vessel and nerve injuries or open fractures, which may lead to serious complications. After treatment, physical therapy should be performed to prevent frozen shoulder. Appropriate treatment must be considered together between the orthopedist and the patient. Providing complete and accurate guidance is essential in deciding the most suitable treatment approach.

An article by Pongtep Na Nakorn, M.D., Experienced Sports Medicine and Shoulder Surgeon

Consult symptoms before scheduling an appointment.

Tue, 28 Oct 2025

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