A 35-year-old member asked:
How can you treat a fractured clavicle?
4 doctor answers • 7 doctors weighed in
Dr. Steven Hillanswered
Family Medicine 25 years experience
Usually splinted: Usually this is treated by either immobilizing the shoulder in a sling or use of various splints - commonly a "figure 8" splint pulls back on the clavicle on each side and helps to relieve pain.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Pedro Hernandezanswered
Geriatrics 42 years experience
Check with Orthopode: Current practice is generally to provide a sling, and pain relief, and to allow the bone to heal itself, monitoring progress with x-rays every week or few weeks. Surgery is employed in 5-10% of cases. However, a recent study supports primary plate fixation of completely displaced midshaft clavicular fractures in active adult patients[2].
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Andrew DeGruccioanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 31 years experience
3 options: Options include simple sling for 3-4 weeks, figure of 8 brace for 4-6 weeks, or surgery. Most clavicle fractures heal within 10-12 weeks without surgical intervention, but if the fracture is significantly displaced or shifted then surgery may be a better option for best results.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Edward Hellmananswered
Orthopedic Surgery 31 years experience
Time, sling: Time, activity restrictions, sling. We used to use figure of eight harnesses, but they were found to be no more effective than a simple sling.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
686 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Similar questions
CA
A 32-year-old member asked:
What should you do with a fractured clavicle?
3 doctor answers • 11 doctors weighed in
Dr. Howard Luksanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 32 years experience
It depends: The treatment of clavicle fractures has evolved quite a lot over the last decade. The orphic peaty community used to believe that everyone did well as long as their fracture healed. We now know that is not the case. There are many instances where surgery is needed to realign the fracture fragments. That being said, a number of fractures are still managed in a sling, without surgery.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated May 22, 2017
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