broken clavicle...surgery or not?

Curb

Here is something for those that are still undecided and how it's done
Good luck and enjoy the film!
BTW, he had a nice break.

Clavicle Malunion: A Patient's Perspective

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIX9bGvA1OQ

cptaylor

That was very informative. I wish I had seen that when I was first researching my fracture.

Thanks for sharing.

Curb

Same here. I am still finding out things i wish I knew 5 months ago.

MADMANC

HEY HOW ARE YOU NOW. THANKS FOR GETTING BACK TO ME , I HAVE BEEN WITH OUT A COMPUTER FOR A BIT SO HAVE JUST GOT BACK ON THE NET.
SO HOW ARE YOU GOING ON SINCE THE OP! I SEE THAT YOU SEEM TO BE OK DO YOU GET ANY PAIN SINCE ,IS IT COMFY NOW ITS BEEN DONE AND HAS YOUR GOLFBALL GONE.
I STILL GET THE PAIN FROM TIME TO TIME JUST UNDER MY SHOULDER BLADES AND AFTER READING THE UPDATES ON THIS SITE I MAY JUST GO AND SEE A DIFFERENT GP

mikeyp123

Here's my story:

I'm 3 months in from my fracture. It is looking like a non-union at this point in time. I actually just had x-rays this morning. It essentially has looked the same for the last 2 months. The strange bit about mine is that it mostly doesn't bother me. I have about 95% of my range of motion, and most of my strength back. Doctor tells me at this point in time I can elect to have surgery. But if it doesn't bother me from doing the things I like doing, it might not make sense to have the surgery. Surgery would start the entire healing process all over again.. I don't know if I can go through that again. Probably the most miserable experience in my life.

The break is a distal 3rd break, right-side, towards the shoulder. I had no ligament or tendon damage.. and it was a pretty clean break.

I was back riding outside at month 2. At this point in time I experience very little discomfor while riding. Only bugs sometimes when I do hard up-hill sprint work.

rorymp

hi i wonder if some one can give me some advice.

i broke my collarbone about 5 weeks ago and have been back to the fracture clinic for three follow up appointments for xrays etc.

the first time i went the doctor told me that the bone was overlapping and to come back in 2 weeks to see how its doing..i was offered surgery (i think) by the doctor (he was mumbling.. alot) to which i replied that as long as it works fine and i am not too disfigured then i dont really mind.

i went back two weeks later and was told that the bone was still overlapping and to come back again in another 2 weeks to see how its getting on.

i went back again and was told that the bone still had a gap of about 1.5cm but was starting to close and the bone was starting to fuse. when i asked about surgery the doctor asked if i would do it...i said the same as before-as long as i have full mobility when its healed and as long as im not to deformed etc.

she went to her "boss" in the clinic to ask his opinion and he said to have me back again in around 3 weeks to see how it looks again.

i swim alot and have a physical job that requires full mobilty (which i need to get back to asap).

i have read up about this type of injury and there is alot of people who say that getting the surgery is the better option as the healing process is faster,you can return to light activities is around a week and your mobility will be alot better.

can request the surgery now? if so who do i ask?

the bone is protruding quite signifigantly and i am still very uncomfortable.

i dont want to be pushy with the doctors but i really dont want to go back in 3 weeks only to be told i need surgery and have to take more time off but at the same time i dont want to be stuck with a shoulder that doesnt give me the movement i need if i dont get the surgery.
any advice would be greatly appreciated.

thanks for your time in advance

rory

ps im 26 if that makes any difference

Keds

Hello Rory (and others considering surgery)

I am a 27 year old female and fractured the mid-shaft of my left clavicle 2 weeks ago. It was displaced and had an overlap of about 2 cm, so I was given the option of 'open reduction internal fixation' surgery by the NHS doctor. I was told the risks of not having the operation - non-union, malunion, longer time for healing etc. I read the research and decided to have the operation - 2 days ago now. So perhaps I can offer some advice on that side of things.

The operation apparently went well, and I now have a plate and 6 pins holding the clavicle in place. My posture feels normal again, the pain in the back of my shoulder blade from the dropping shoulder has gone and it feels pretty strong already. However, the experience of the operation was pretty horrible. It involves a general anaesthetic that 2 days later I still feel sick from, I have a large wound (about 4 inches), it's very sore and I have to wear a sling. I also had to spend a full day in the hospital ward (fortunately the doctors let me go home for the night).

Perhaps in a week or so I will notice the results more and feel more positive about the operation but I would advise you think carefully about whether to go through with it.

I found the following reading useful for making my decision:

http://www.ispub.com/ostia/index.ph...n1/clavicle.xml

Robinson CM, Court-Brown CM, McQueen MM, et al; Estimating the risk of nonunion following nonoperative treatment of a clavicular fracture. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2004 Jul;86-A(7):1359-65. [abstract]

Nonoperative treatment compared with plate fixation of displaced midshaft clavicular fractures. A multicenter, randomized clinical trial. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2007 Jan;89(1):1-10. [abstract]

Rory - As you are unable to work without full mobility of the shoulder, it sounds like surgery may be the best option. You need to make it clear to the doctors what your priorities are. Have you spoken to a consultant surgeon? They would be able to offer the best advice and arrange the operation. At the end of the day, it's your decision and your future, so don't worry about being pushy!

Hope this helps.

Sophie