The clavicle is the only connecting bone between the torso and the upper limb of a person. It has an S-shape. The statistics for clavicle fractures range from 3 to 16% of all cases of skeletal bone fractures and are primarily found among young people.
Causes
A clavicle fracture usually occurs from indirect impact when falling on the shoulder or elbow joint, an outstretched arm, or from compression of the shoulders. There are also cases of direct fractures when the clavicle is struck by a hard object during a fall.
Symptoms of Clavicle Fracture
The first symptom of a clavicle fracture is sharp pain at the fracture site - the injured person is forced to support the arm on the side of the broken clavicle. A patient with a clavicle fracture has a characteristic appearance - tilting and turning the head toward the fracture, the shoulder is displaced downward and forward, the scapula protrudes from behind, the shoulder is pressed against the torso and lowered, the supraclavicular fossa is absent, and a swelling forms at the fracture site from the bone pressing against the skin.
Diagnosis of Clavicle Fracture in Israel
Diagnosing a clavicle fracture is not difficult, as the injury has clear signs. After the initial examination, a doctor in Israel orders an X-ray examination in the anteroposterior view. In the case of a comminuted fracture, an X-ray in the axial view is performed.
Treatment of Clavicle Fracture in Israel
Treatment of a clavicle fracture involves aligning the broken ends of the bone and fixing them in the correct position until complete healing occurs. There are several methods for realigning the bone. Additionally, a surgical method is used in Israel, indicated for damage to blood vessels and nerve endings, comminuted fractures, open fractures, and the threat of skin rupture from bone fragments and open fractures. During the operation, intramedullary fixation with a pin or extramedullary reinforcement methods using plates, bone grafts, etc., may be applied. In any treatment method, the arm, forearm, and shoulder are immobilized for 4 to 6 weeks. After this period, a follow-up X-ray examination is conducted, and upon successful healing, the patient is prescribed rehabilitative exercises and physiotherapy.
Prevention
To avoid a clavicle fracture, it is necessary to tuck in and land correctly when falling.