What Is a Clavicle Fracture?
A clavicle fracture is a broken collarbone. It's a common injury, caused by trauma to the shoulder or direct impact to the clavicle.
Children are more likely than adults to break their collarbone, with fractures happening twice as often as in adults. Broken collarbones make up as much as 15% of all fractures in growing children. They make up about 5% of adult fractures.
The clavicle (or collarbone) provides your shoulder with stability and strength. It also protects nerves and blood vessels that run from the neck to the shoulder.
What Causes Clavicle Fractures?
A broken collarbone (or clavicle fracture) occurs when you receive a direct blow to the:
- Outside part of your shoulder.
- Elbow.
- Outstretched arm.
You can also break your collarbone if you fall on the "tip" of an unprotected shoulder.
Athletes that tend to have a higher risk of getting a clavicle fracture include:
- Football players.
- Wrestlers.
- Ice hockey players.
What Are the Risk Factors and Complications of Broken Collarbones?
Children are at a higher risk of breaking their collarbone because their bones have lower density. The collarbone in particular hasn't hardened yet.
Children who are athletes in contact sports like football are even more likely to fracture their clavicle. Adults who play contact sports have a higher risk as well.
However, bicycle accidents, falls around the house, and automobile accidents are also to blame. Even babies are sometimes born with a fractured clavicle. It can happen as they are passing through the birth canal.
One complication of a clavicle fracture is a nonunion, which means the bones haven't healed. If the bone moves out of place before it can heal in the proper position, it's a malunion.
Both of these complications may require further treatment or even surgery. However, some people with these complications have little pain, and their range of motion isn't affected.