Many injuries tin can damage the collarbone, and some crave immediate attending. When should a person seek emergency treatment, and when will a routine trip to the doctor be enough? Nosotros address these questions and more.

The collarbone, also known as the clavicle, extends from the shoulder to the breastbone.

Common causes of collarbone pain include:

  • fracture
  • thoracic outlet syndrome
  • articulation injury
  • osteoarthritis
  • sleeping position
  • distal clavicular osteolysis
  • cancer
  • osteomyelitis

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Some injuries to the collarbone will crave immediate medical handling.

The collarbone is among the most likely to fracture. Edgeless force applied to an outstretched arm or shoulder can hands injure or break this bone.

The following activities often lead to broken or fractured collarbones:

  • birth
  • contact sports, such as football, martial arts, or basketball
  • car accidents

How can a person identify a broken collarbone?

Collarbone breaks and fractures usually occur with shoulder injuries caused by accidents.

Pain around the collarbone will start of a sudden and oftentimes abound worse as a person tries to move their shoulder. They may as well experience a grinding sensation or hear a clicking noise.

Other symptoms of a broken or fractured collarbone include:

  • tenderness
  • swelling
  • bruising around the area
  • a strong arm

A caregiver or doctor may discover that a newborn is not moving 1 arm, perhaps indicating a restriction or fracture.

A broken collarbone is diagnosed post-obit an Ten-ray and an examination, in which a doctor checks for bruising or swelling.

Treatment

Treatment will depend on the severity of the injury.

If the bone has remained in place, despite the pause or fracture, a person will likely only need to wear a sling for a few days and remainder the arm. In some cases, a doctor will recommend a brace instead.

More severe breaks may require surgery, in which a surgeon will insert pins, a rod, or a plate to keep the bone and fragments in place during healing.

This occurs when the collarbone shifts from its normal position and applies pressure to the claret vessels and fretfulness located between the bone and the highest rib.

Potential causes of thoracic outlet syndrome include:

  • obesity
  • injury
  • poor posture
  • weak shoulder muscles
  • repetitive lifting or strain
  • congenital disability

The following symptoms may betoken this syndrome:

  • weakness in the arm
  • a painful lump under the collarbone
  • pain and swelling or numbness in one arm
  • pain in the neck, collarbone, or shoulder
  • changes to the color of the hands or fingers

Physical therapy is a common handling. Information technology will likely focus on strengthening the muscles around the collarbone. However, surgery may be required in more severe cases.

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An injury to the joint connecting the collarbone to the shoulder blade may cause pain and tenderness.

The acromioclavicular (Air-conditioning) articulation is located where the collarbone meets the top of the shoulder bract.

Separation of the joint is a common injury, sometimes caused by blunt force or a fall.

Injuring the AC joint tin can lead to pain, just information technology does not always accompany a break of the collarbone.

Symptoms include:

  • swelling
  • tenderness
  • pain
  • a collarbone that is out of place
  • a bulge above the shoulder

Depending on the severity of the injury, a doctor may recommend:

  • resting the shoulder and applying water ice
  • using a brace to stabilize the articulation
  • surgery

Osteoarthritis happens when protective tissue at the end of a bone wears down.

This type of arthritis is frequently caused by normal article of clothing and tear that accompanies ageing. In some cases information technology is brought on past injury.

Symptoms of osteoarthritis in the collarbone include:

  • hurting in the area that gets worse very gradually
  • stiffness in the AC joint
  • hurting in the Ac joint

Treatments include:

  • nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen
  • corticosteroid injections
  • changes to lifestyle, which may involve avoiding activities that irritate the articulation
  • surgery (rarely)

Sleeping in certain positions can crusade hurting in the neck, back, or collarbone. Sleeping on the same side for long periods may be peculiarly problematic.

This pain typically eases during the 24-hour interval. Some may treat it with over-the-counter medications, and prevent it by changing positions during the night. New pillows or mattresses tin can also help with this blazon of hurting.

This is the term for small fractures developing on the end of the collarbone closest to the shoulder, known as the distal end. The condition is sometimes called weightlifter's shoulder.

If a person does not allow these fractures to heal, they will grow worse and lead to pain and swelling.

Symptoms of distal clavicular osteolysis include:

  • general aches and pain in the area
  • hurting when moving the arm beyond the trunk
  • pain when lifting objects above the head

Treatment normally involves resting and avoiding activities that aggravate the symptoms. Other treatments may include:

  • medications for pain and swelling
  • physiotherapy
  • steroid injections
  • surgery

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Information technology is rare for collarbone pain to exist caused by cancer.

Cancer is not a common cause of collarbone hurting.

If cancer is causing the pain, it may have spread from another part of the torso. For example, lymph nodes that have developed cancer tend to cause pain in neighboring areas, such equally the collarbone.

Neuroblastoma is a type of cancer that often develops in basic and lymph nodes. It tin affect young children as well every bit adults.

Symptoms include:

  • loftier blood pressure
  • fever
  • sweating
  • rapid heartbeat
  • diarrhea

When cancer spreads to the collarbone, surgery or radiation are common treatments. Recommended methods will depend on how advanced the cancer is when handling starts.

Osteomyelitis, a bone infection, is not very mutual.

The following symptoms may indicate osteomyelitis of the collarbone:

  • tenderness
  • swelling
  • nausea
  • fever
  • warmth around the site of infection
  • pus oozing from the skin

Below are mutual causes of osteomyelitis:

  • bacterial infections, such as sepsis or pneumonia
  • infection that occurs subsequently a fractured collarbone punctures the skin
  • infection that spreads from a wound most the collarbone

Normally, a person with osteomyelitis is hospitalized and receives intravenous antibiotics.

A doctor will likely demand to bleed pus from the site of the infection and stabilize the bone.

After being released, the person may continue to take antibiotics orally for several weeks or months.

Following an injury to the collarbone, contact emergency services. Upon examination, a doctor volition brand a diagnosis and recommend treatment. Failing to become appropriate care can delay healing or crusade an injury to heal incorrectly.

See a physician if shoulder pain is unexplained or accompanied past other symptoms.

Virtually people can expect a total recovery from a broken or fractured collarbone, particularly if the injury is treated early on.

Other causes of collarbone pain are less common and may not need medical attention.

Consult a doc if the cause of collarbone pain is unclear.