Collarbone – structure, injuries, fractures, tumors. Treatment of collarbone injuries

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The collarbone is a long bone that connects the scapula and the sternum. Most people can feel the collarbone, especially when the arm is stretched forward. A characteristic feature of the clavicle is the absence or small size of the marrow cavity. It all depends on the body. What is your collarbone structure and what to do when you know your collarbone may be fractured?

Collarbone – structure

The collarbone has a shaft and two ends – shoulder and sternum. The sternum ends with the sternum, and the shoulder ends with the brachial process. The shoulder end is flat, while the sternum end is round. There are very important muscles attached to the clavicle – the sternocleidomastoid muscle and the greater pectoral muscle. Laterally, the deltoid and trapezius muscles adjoin it. Contrary to appearances, the collarbone is quite often damaged.

The collarbone, together with the shoulder blade, forms the rim of the upper limb. It is thanks to this bone that we can make free movements. Additionally, the collarbone protects the nerve-vascular bundle. The collarbone, as a rule, is visible. It can also be easily felt under the fingers. In slim people it is much more protruding, but it is not a pathology by any means.

Collarbone – collarbone fracture

A broken collarbone causes characteristic symptoms that cannot be ignored. What’s more – everyone can be exposed to this type of fracture, although they are most often attributed to sportsmen training contact sports.

Most often, a collarbone fracture occurs during a fall or traffic accident. A broken collarbone is accompanied by pain and visible swelling. Added to this is the problem of moving the hand. It is very common for bone dislocation to be visible. In extreme cases, this fracture may damage the brachial plexus or the subclavian artery. In turn, damage to the artery can lead to internal hemorrhage.

If we know that the collarbone is broken, it should be immobilized as soon as possible. You can use a sling for this. This step will prevent bone shards from moving around. Most collarbone fractures can be healed without surgery. However, there are cases when it is necessary. These include: multiple fracture, open fracture, nerve damage.

Operations are also performed when the bones do not want to heal together. A broken collarbone must be immobilized for 3-4 weeks. After this time, rehabilitation is necessary. After one year, the patient regains full fitness.

Collarbone – other collarbone injuries

The collarbone is also at risk of less serious injuries, such as contusions. They can be sore to touch. If you experience clavicle pain when you raise your hand, but it has not suffered any trauma, you are probably dealing with muscle overload. It can also be a signal informing about degenerative conditions and vascular-nerve changes.

One of the injuries that can cause severe clavicle pain is the separation of the shoulder-clavicle joint. This means breaking the ligaments that stabilize the joint and help hold the bones in place. Clavicular injuries are usually caused by a fall or a direct blow to the shoulder. A mild rupture can cause pain, while a more severe ligament rupture can displace the clavicle.

In addition to pain and tenderness around the collarbone, a bulge may develop above the shoulder. Treatment then includes rest and ice packs on the arm, as well as an over-the-shoulder orthosis to help stabilize the joint. In severe cases, surgery becomes necessary to repair torn ligaments and possibly trim a part of the clavicle to fit snugly.

In the case of collarbone injuries, we can also talk about clavicle osteolysis. The end of the clavicle, or the distal portion that forms the clavico-clavicular joint, can become irritated and inflamed. Osteolysis, or bone degeneration, can easily occur at the end of the clavicle due to the repetitive forces acting on a small area of ​​the shoulder-clavicular joint, especially when lifting heavy objects, such as when exercising, such as bench presses. Bone begins to break down faster than it can heal and form new bone cells. Acute pain often occurs with the overhead and pushing movements of the arm and shoulder with dull pain at rest.

Sometimes clavicle pain can indicate various diseases. One of them is the compression syndrome of the upper chest opening. Then, the nerve bundle of the upper limb is compressed. It should be noted that even sleeping all night on one side is unfavorable for the collarbone. This can lead to chronic oppression. Then the pain usually disappears immediately after getting up.

The collarbone can also hurt in the course of shoulder degeneration. Then, the mobility is limited and the joints of the shoulder girdle become stiff. The development of this disease is quite slow. The symptoms of osteoarthritis include pain and stiffness in the affected joint. Symptoms usually develop slowly and gradually worsen over time. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen or naproxen, can help reduce the pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis. Corticosteroid injections can also help relieve inflammation and pain in the long term.

In extreme cases, collarbone pain may result from the spread of cancer to the bone or from the involvement of nearby lymph nodes. There are lymph nodes throughout our body. As the cancer has spread to them, you may feel pain and notice swelling in the nodes above the collarbone, in the armpit, near the groin and neck.

Neuroblastoma is a type of cancer that can affect the lymph nodes or spread to the bones. In addition to pain, its symptoms include:

1. diarrhea;
2. fever;
3. high blood pressure;
4. fast heartbeat;
5. excessive sweating.

Tumors that develop in the clavicle, shoulder, or upper arm may be treated with radiation therapy or surgery, depending on the nature and stage of the disease.

If you have bruised your collarbone and you suffer from persistent pain, it is worth using an analgesic ointment. You should also avoid overloading the collarbone. If the pain is severe, over-the-counter oral pain relievers can help. If the pain persists or gets worse, contact your doctor who will do all the necessary tests and make a diagnosis.

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Clavicle – diagnosis of clavicle pain

Clavicle pain can be a symptom of various diseases. Diagnosing the cause of collarbone pain always begins with a detailed medical history and targeted physical examination. Your history and physical condition will influence your doctor’s decision on which tests to take later.

Imaging tests will be the most common diagnostic tests, especially if there is any possibility of injury. The doctor almost always starts by ruling out whether the cause of the pain is the collarbone itself or the connection of the clavicle with other bones. The doctor will first analyze the most common causes and deal with the more rare ones.

Imaging test options include:

1. x-rays: The easiest way to find out what’s causing your collarbone pain is to look at it. X-rays (X-ray examination) are the easiest, fastest and cheapest option. We can expect an x-ray if we go to the doctor for collarbone pain.
2. computed tomography (CT): In some cases, especially if the cause of the collarbone pain is not traumatic and not obvious, your doctor will order a CT scan. This is almost always done after a simple x-ray, and may not be necessary if your doctor looks closely at any obvious injury or abnormality on the x-ray.
3. magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): the CT scanner uses X-ray technology to create images. MRI uses a magnetic field. CT is able to see the difference between hard and soft tissue very clearly. On the other hand, MRI can distinguish between different soft tissues. With a potentially fractured collarbone, MRI will be rare.
4. bone scintigraphy: If there is any doubt about the integrity of the collarbone or other shoulder structures, your doctor may order a bone scan to detect any weaknesses.

See also: Tendon ultrasound – indications and the course of the examination

Collarbone – treatment of collarbone injuries

Treatment of collarbone pain depends on the cause of the pain. In the most common cases of injury, treatment will be some form of immobilization, either surgical or non-surgical.

Home treatment and first aid

Immediate treatment can be carried out before going to the doctor or before the arrival of the ambulance (in extreme cases). In traumatic cases of collarbone pain, especially when a clavicle fracture is suspected, you should immobilize the affected arm as much as possible by placing the arm in a sling. The scarf can be made of a towel or a triangular scarf.

Mild clavicle pain, which may be associated with muscle strain or minor trauma, can be treated by following a few simple rules:

Rest. Avoid activities that will put even a slight strain on the arm.

Ice pack. Put ice packs on the sore area for about 20 minutes. Don’t put ice directly on the skin, and don’t leave the ice in place for more than 20 minutes at a time. After 20 minutes, let’s remove the ice for at least 20 minutes. Repeat the cycle of 20 minutes with ice and 20 minutes without.

Compress. We can easily wrap your injured knee or ankle with a medical bandage to reduce swelling and internal bleeding. In the case of collarbone pain, the doctor may carefully wrap our arm, but don’t try to do it yourself. Keeping your arm and shoulder in a sling can help reduce further injuries.

The right position. Let’s keep the arm above the heart to reduce the swelling. This means that we do not lie down for the first 24 hours. If possible, let us sleep with our head and shoulders slightly raised.

Surgery

Depending on the type and severity of the injury, your doctor will order you to use a belt or brace to immobilize your arm, or consult an orthopedic surgeon who will operate and repair the injury from the inside.

If a ruptured ligament in the clavicle or shoulder joint is causing the collarbone to rupture, surgery may be performed to correct the problem. Surgery for a painless clavicle rupture is rare.

Surgery may involve using a small wire to tie the brachial or clavicular joints together to connect the bones properly. During the procedure, the doctor can “clean” the joint by removing bone spurs and small pieces of cartilage.

Following surgery, the patient will likely be forced to wear a sling for several weeks during the healing process, and we will likely need to undergo rehabilitation to regain strength and enable normal functional use of the arm.

See also: The seven worst diseases of bones and joints

Collarbone – A feeling of slamming in your collarbone

Be aware that some episodes of collarbone clicks are short-lived, while others are permanent. If a slam in your collarbone causes pain and restricts the function of your arm, you should definitely see your doctor for appropriate help.

The goal would be to restore normal painless movement in the shoulder and shoulder or shoulder-clavicular joints. Most people feel a little better after getting the proper treatment.

Sometimes, crackling in the sternoclavicular or collarbone joint is not painful and does not restrict function; it’s just a nuisance. In these cases, it may be necessary to find activities to reduce collarbone slamming or to learn to live with the slamming of our arm.

As long as we can function fully and painlessly, we should be able to use our arms normally, albeit with little ‘noise’ from the joints.

See also: Rotator cuff

Collarbone – nodules on the collarbone

A lump on your collarbone can be cause for concern. This long, thin bone connects the shoulder to the chest. It runs just below the skin’s surface and is generally smooth. This makes any bulge or lump on the bone easy to see and feel. The lump may be a sign of trauma, infection, or a more serious condition. For example, a collarbone injury, such as a fracture or rupture, can sometimes cause a tumor to form.

A lump on the collarbone and swollen lymph nodes

Sometimes a lump on your collarbone is the result of swollen lymph nodes. Our body has over 600 lymph nodes. Lymph nodes and the lymphatic fluid that passes through them are essential to stop unwanted bacteria and foreign substances in the body, as well as circulating white blood cells, which also fight infection.

Lymph nodes can become swollen if we are injured, are fighting an infection, or have another disease. This is because the body moves more white blood cells to that area to fight the problem.

Lump on the collarbone and the cyst

A lump on your collarbone may be a cyst. Cysts are under the skin and appear when fluid is poured into the bag. They are hard when pressed from the surface of the skin and are usually not harmful or a sign of any ill health.

Lump on the collarbone and benign and malignant tumors

There is a possibility that the lump on the collarbone is a tumor. The tumors can be benign or malignant and should be examined by a doctor. Many benign tumors are known as lipomas. These are fat-filled bumps that take a long time to appear, usually months or years. They will be soft and spongy if touched, and they are small as peas.

Another type of tumor is a bone tumor. This type of tumor is not common on the collarbone. One percent or less of bone tumors on the body are found right here.

One type of rare tumor of the clavicle bone is called an aneurysmal cyst. They are most common in older children and adolescents and can be benign or cancerous.

Lump on the collarbone and infection

Discovering a lump on your collarbone could be a sign of an infection. One type of infection that can affect your collarbone is a bone infection known as osteomyelitis, although it’s not a common condition. Infections can spread to the collarbone from blood or tissue near the collarbone.

Infection can also occur if the collarbone is injured and germs enter the wound.

Treatment for a lump on the clavicle varies depending on the cause of the tumor. Our doctor will need to diagnose the lump to determine the correct treatment.

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