Most often, fractures of the clavicle occur in athletes with trauma, and also at the age of 20 years. Injury of the clavicle occurs with direct exposure (impact), with a fall on the shoulder, arm.
Symptoms of clavicle fracture:
- pain in the injured area, with the movement of the hand;
- the appearance of swelling, hemorrhage;
- limitation of movements of the shoulder joint;
- deformation in the area of the clavicle.
Classification of clavicle fractures
Fractures of the clavicle differ in the place of localization:
- fracture of diaphysis (middle part);
- fracture of the acromial end (closer to the shoulder region);
- fracture of the sternal end.
In addition, the fractures are classified as comminuted, multi-lobed, with an oblique or perpendicular fracture line, and so on.
Treatment of clavicle fracture
Conservative treatment involves fixing (immobilizing) the hands for a period of 3 to 7 weeks for bone consolidation. How long will the clavicle fracture heal depends on the type of fracture, the age of the patient. Immobilization is carried out with the help of a bandage bandage or Delbe rings, which stretch the shoulders to the side and back.
The second method of treatment is operative. It is used if, after repositioning (correction of the fracture), the clavicle displacement remains larger than the width of the bone or more than 2 cm in length. This operation is called osteosynthesis. Displacement of fragments is eliminated, bone is fastened with the help of metal structures (plates, screws, pins).
After the operation, the hand is fixed with a bandage bandage, can prescribe pain medications.
Complications of a clavicle fracture
With a conservative method of treatment, the clavicle fuses in almost all cases. However, sometimes the displacement of fragments is not eliminated, the length of the clavicle is not restored, so the foreleg can be deformed, shortened.
Possible consequences of surgical treatment of collar fracture:
- Non-adhesion of the clavicle (erroneously this condition is sometimes called false joints). To such a complication may result in a multi-lobed fracture, an inaccurate choice of a metal fixator, a traumatic operation.
- Infectious complications are osteomyelitis. To prevent this complication, you must comply with the requirements of asepsis. The injured person is prescribed antibiotics for the prevention (intravenously before the operation).
Recovery (rehabilitation) after clavicle fracture
The function of the shoulder joint after a normal fracture of the fragments is gradually restored. Often, only a small restriction of movements remains, provided that the fragments were not too biased.
LFK after a collarbone fracture with conservative treatment can be started immediately after the reduction of pain. The medical complex includes respiratory, general developing, as well as exercises for the fingers. After the end of the immobilization period, during the period of the formation of the bone callus, the exercises aimed at restoring the function of the shoulder joint are performed. Exercises are carried out with both hands.
Then comes the training period, when the main load gets a damaged arm. When developing a hand after a fracture of the clavicle, it is important that there is no pain in the injured limb.
If the patient is operated on, the exercise therapy is assigned the next day.
Massage after a fracture of the clavicle
Massage is performed on the second day after the fracture. Massage is performed in the sitting position of the patient. The healthy part of the chest and back are massaged twice a day for 8 to 12 minutes. At the same time, such techniques are used: kneading, stroking, squeezing. When the fixing scarf is removed, a gentle massage of the injured hand is attached.