Clavicle Surgery

Clavicle Surgery: A Guide to Clavicle Surgery and Recovery

admin — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 09:15:00 +0000

Adventurous riding on a bicycle or motorbike, is a thrilling experience, but unfortunately, a bump or oil slick on the road, may cause you to fall off the bike, and land heavily on your shoulder, possibly necessitating clavicle surgery. Just as the adrenaline winds down, you start to feel intense pain, when you move your arm. You target the pain as coming from your collar bone [clavicle], and upon checking, you notice that there is swelling and tenderness.

Will I need clavicle surgery ?

The next morning, your shoulder feels like it has been hit by a truck, and you may feel nauseous. Suspicious about the extent of the injury from the day before, you consult a physician in the emergency room. An X-ray later, you find out you have fractured your collar bone. The attending physician simply binds your shoulder in an elastic bandage, and puts your arm on a sling. After some prescriptions are given, you are sent home and told not to do anything that might complicate the break. You were lucky. For some, a simple sling and binding will do the trick. For others with more severe breaks, a clavicle surgery has to be performed.

The clavicle, or the collar bone, can be easily fractured. Left to heal on its own, this may leave your body leaning slightly to one side. If the clavicle surgery is done when the break is fresh, muscle strength could recover completely, but if there is a delay, muscle endurance may be weakened.

The clavicle surgery will involve securing a combination of screws and plates. This is a painful procedure and you will be given a lot of heavy duty painkillers, to tolerate the pain. If the patient is an athlete, sometimes, pins and screws are not the only thing that will be inserted. Titanium plates would have to be positioned critically to ensure that there will be opportunity for contact sports. With the titanium plates, the athlete can have an earlier chance at physical therapy to regain complete motion, following clavicle surgery.

However, a far less invasive procedure is arthroscopic surgery and this also has a much shorter recovery time, with far greater strength recovery. So remember to get at least two doctor’s opinions as to whether your particular injury can be healed by arthroscopic clavicle surgery.

Recovery after clavicle surgery

Clavicle surgery recovery depends on several factors: age, health, complexity and location of the break, and extent of the bone displacement.

For younger patients, it takes less than 3 or 4 weeks of immobilization, to allow healing of both bone and soft tissues. The younger the patient is, the less time is required for the recovery, as they are still growing. Adults take a longer time to recover from clavicle surgery, due to the fact that they have stopped growing.

For a few minutes each day, and gradually increasing as the weeks progress, the sling may be removed, to passively exercise the shoulder muscles. Full mobility will be achieved in less than four months, for the younger patients. For the adults, four months is the minimum, and can maximize at 9 months. Full strength will be achieved in a minimum of 9 months to a maximum of one year, following clavicle surgery.

Thoughs/Opinions about possible tattoo placement?

admin — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 04:47:42 +0000

Well, I was diagnosed with cervical and ovarian cancers in December, and Acute Myeloid Leukemia in January. I went through SO much–chemotherapy, depression, numerous hospital visits & stays, radiation, experimental treatment in New York City, bone marrow transplant, surgeries…and while it sounds really horrible (and it was), something really amazing came out of it: i grew incredibly close to god. i’ve decided to celebrate my ovarian and cervival cancer being completely gone and my aml being in remission by getting “forever faithful” in script below my clavicle. and although i really love this tattoo and the meaning, i’m not so sure about the placement–and clavicle is just so THERE, in your face, and prominent. i hope to one day be a teacher, and i don’t want to not be taken serious because of my tattoo. i know that its something special and meaningful, but is there another place where i should consider getting it? thanks

My shoulder has been killing me for 4 weeks! Any help!?

admin — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 02:50:31 +0000

Ok, so four weeks ago, i had baseball practice. I just recently moved up to the big field. I used to play little league and now i play babe ruth league. Anyways, we did a lot of throwing. We did a bunch of long tosses. And i don’t know if i remember correctly, but i forgot to warm up. I threw for about 5 minutes without stretching and i know that has something to do with it. My dad also mentioned that i was throwing weird that day, He said I wasn’t stepping into my throw enough and i wasn’t extending my arm enough and i was mostly using my shoulder rather than my entire arm. So anyways, after the practice, my arm started to really hurt. It wasn’t a sharp pain. I can’t pinpoint exactly where it hurts, but if i could pick a spot, it would be the top of the shoulder just about where the clavicle ends. I put ice on it and it helped a little. Four days later, i had another practice. It was about 3 hours. Again, i didn’t stretch enough. So we threw a lot again then my arm REALLY started to hurt. It hurt to lift my arm above shoulder level and it still does 4 weeks later. I went to an orthopedic and they said its just a strain but i think it’s more than that idk. They took X-rays to make sure it wasnt a fracture but the doctor doesn’t think i need an MRI scan. He wanted me to put heat on it a few times a day and take motrin to stop the pain. Nothing is really working and im worried. What do you guys think this could be? A strain or a pull? Rotator cuff? Please help! Do i need surgery?!? (im only 13)

Broken Collarbone Normalities?

admin — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 01:33:19 +0000

Two weeks ago I broke my Collarbone (Clavicle) playing broomball. I went for X Rays to see how it was healing on Friday of last week. To my disappointment it did not look like it was healing properly AT ALL. The bones were still overlapping each other despite my wearing a figure eight brace AND sling for the last two weeks religiously. I’m just curious to know if this is normal or if I should be expecting to get surgery. I have already recieved an opinion of leaving it and letting it heal, but alot of others have told me it looks really bad. Aside from certain movements I feel little to no pain at all and I’m anxious to get it all healed up as Grad is coming up soon *sob*. I know I may be told to ‘see a doctor and get a professional opinion’ but the nearest specialist is two hours away and my next time there is in 4 or 5 days and I want to know if there is anyone out there with more knowledge/experience on this subject then me. Help would be greatly appreciated!

Hurt Collar bone bad in China today. Doctors no help. Need yahoos advice. so painful?

admin — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 23:18:13 +0000

I have been riding my new moutain biking for 2 weeks now. Like 80 km a day weekdays after not riding for 8 years and being out of shape. Someone burglularised my home and stole 8 years of my life work 3 weeks ago I decided I was going to bury myself in my mountainbiking, get my healthback and now today the worst thing happened.

First woke up and am scared my youngest child might have the pigflu as he is showing flu symptoms…

Then I left and rode 35 kilometers on one of my fastest commutes and had an accident. I was in a small back alley street and I saw this guy on the side of the road trying to walk out in front of me it looked like on the shoulder of the road..

Then blam I hit a speed bump the same color as the street.. totally missed it and indo’d over my front handle pars feet locked in place and slammed head and shoulder into the pavement.

The Chinese walked around me as if nothing happened. I walked for about a kilometer then felt the most horrific pain I have ever felt.

Went to the hospital.. and then the doctors tok an exray and said somethinglike two tendons n my collar bone were ripped and I would need a surgery. First they said 10-15000 rmb, then their boss came in and saw I was a foriegner and was like “oh no… thats like 25000 rmb”

This is some serious cash. I can tell you that this hurts soo bad. They gave me morphine and some other pills Celecoxib.

That didnt really do anthing that I can tell. I cant stand up and have to hold my arm up and out words of my body in order to not feel any pain… I mean not bad pain. Even when I walk. MY woman has to hel me piss as I cant doi it myself. They put some kind of harness on me and a free hanging splint. I am under the impression they dont know how to make splints because I cant do anything unless Ihold my arm up with my other arm.

I need You help.

Can you help me with the following questions?

1)I can attach a picture of the x-ray and can someone tell me the name of what I have in English?

2) Whats a good a good painkiller,

3) how to make the proper splint?

4)and is an operation necessary?

And what is it that I have in English?

The google translation says:

“The right shoulder is sorrowful place right shoulder lock joint space widened, distal clavicle upward shift”

I hurt so bad. i need to take care of my two children and 25000 is so much/

5) Will I ever be able to ride again?

6) It hurts so bad.. when will it stop hurting?

Thanks for your help

Robert …

Dead sad. Hurting.
you can see xrays here

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?p=6352468#post6352468

THanks for your advice so far. Another Chinese doctor said it needs to be operated.. but they are so financially motivated. The last thing in the world i want to do if I dont have to is put metal pieces in my body. Question… I understand the ligaments are torn on the collar bone.. can you tell me if my shoulder is out of its socket/dislocated? if so does someone have to put it back into the socket? or can I just leave it alone and everything will heal on its own?

http://thecenterofthenet.com/IMG_0001.jpg

http://thecenterofthenet.com/IMG_0002.jpg

http://thecenterofthenet.com/smaller.jpg

Shouler Pain! Advice?

admin — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 20:55:14 +0000

My shoulder has been hurting me for almost 2 years now. It will get better and then worse again. It is most likely from overuse because I lift weights intensely 4 days a week. I believe the problem is where the clavicle meets the scapula. It feels loose and sags a little bit lower then my other shoulder. It clicks in and out when I move it or put pressure on it in certain positions. Ive already tried PT. Are there any supplements I can take or anything other than surgery? Doctors/PTs/anyone in the medical field if you have an opinion please share it.

BUD/S Disqualification?

admin — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 18:56:25 +0000

I have always wanted to become a SEAL. I work hard, I do well in school. I believe that I will become a SEAL one way or another. There is only one thing that is making me question my declaration though, and that is I currently have a banged up collar bone. I had surgery; there is a plate and several screws. I already have full range of motion, and the plate and screws will be taken out approximately in 7 more months. There will be no physical restrictions, and I will be free to do anything I want to my clavicle after those 7 months. Will this “to be” past medical mishap keep me from qualifying for BUD/S or even the Navy?

Please, this means more to me than anything. I have researched for days now and I find the answers to be indeterminate.
Thank you. Any opinion in the matter is valuable to me, and for that i thank you

Father prescribed Blood Pressure tablets & collapsed!?

admin — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 17:13:46 +0000

My Dad is 54 and very healthy and fit for his age, his GP reckoned his Blood Pressure was slightly high and put him on some blood pressure tablets and beta blockers? (not sure what these are) He was driving his van down a motorway when he felt his vision going bleached and fading and he thought he was going to die, he managed to pull into a layby and thought getting in the back of his transit van to lie down may help, but he collapsed outside the van before he had chance to open back doors, luckily a passing motorist pulled over and called 999, his head was gushing with blood and it turns out he has broken his clavicle (shoulder/ collar bone) he was taken to a local hospital and there they deemed he should not even be on these tablets as his blood pressure is fine! he was doing as instructed by GP and taking these tablets, all the while they were lowering his blood pressure dangerously low, as his normal blood pressure was within normal limits and not high at all. My dad is very lucky he did not crash and so are other motorists if he had crashed into them, plus he was driving back from Devon after being on a Sea Kayaking holiday, what if this happened while he was kayaking, he would of drowned! I am furious beyond words, and me and my brother will be seeking legal advice, we nearly lost our Dad! The hospital that treated him for his injuries compiled a CD/DVD to give to his normal GP when he got home and to say OI look what you did basically, his GP surgery are “investigating” but no one has got back to him yet and this was last week. I have no idea where to start on this short of going to solicitors, has anyone got any advice of websites that may help point us in the right direction, what if this happens to some one else. We have already had 2 family deaths this year (old age being one and cancer the other) coming close to losing Dad like this would be devastating. Sorry for the long post, need to rant and get help lol
NB: I don’t know the name of the tablets i am finding out.
Thanks for reading this

I have what’s called a snapping scapula, I ve’had scans done and it found pretty much nothing any treatments?

admin — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 14:57:34 +0000

It feels like that my scapula is rolling over something and at times I have sore/painfull spots on top of my shoulder (above clavicle) and around my scapula on a outward. had mri and ultrasound scans done and pretty much nothing no bony surface/tears/ My doctor said I have a snapping scapula I have had alot of repetitive movement done at work, alot of overhead work, and also I was pulling down really hard at work and felt discomfort somewhere around/below my scapula at that time and right on the next day my whole shoulder was sore and that continued for few months and then my sholder started snapping/clicking/making noises. It seems like that Dr. will want to do a surgery but I am pretty sure there got to be an alternative please let me know.
NOTE;;; my scapula started having dyscanisis (improper movements) I did physical therapy and it helped with pain at scapulothoracic joint and stabilize my scapula during movements, but I still had snapping at my shoulder.

Anybody ever dealt with a blood clot in either lung?

admin — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 12:50:55 +0000

I just spent 3 1/2 days as an emergency admission in the cardio-diabetic section and after a series of Ct. Scan with contrast, Echo-Ultrasound of my heart, (ECG), X-ray, EKG and the lovely Vascular Ultra-sound lower extremeties study (OH SO PAINFUL) and they finally came up with a diagnosis of: Pulmonary Embolism in my upper rt. lung AND the bad part – it’s inoperable because OF where it’s located. I asked them why if they can dilute clots in the liver, kidneys, brain, anywhere else but not mine. They said if they did it would kill me. It’s less than 2 centimeters but bad enough that surgery to go after it would kill me in most cases. Note: I have a huge family history of this and all cardio events on both sides of my family. VERY DANGEROUS and if I hadn’t gone and had my symptoms checked, I wouldn’t be writing this right now. They say I’m in what’s called: “the gray zone” so I’m putting out feelers to see if anybody out there has ever dealt with this before or is now. Seriously! I knew the symptoms of a woman presenting for a cardio event but never gave a minute’s thought to a blood clot forming in my legs and traveling to my lungs and being inoperable! Yep, so now I’m at home on portable oxygen and on the tummy injections Lovenox and being weaned to Coumadin and still needing maybe two more surgeries. One possibly for more trouble with my right shoulder that I just had a resection on and for a slipped/crunched-by-breathing tube Hyoid bone in my throat from my Left shoulder clavicle resection back in April. I’m falling apart! Any takers on this? Medical personnel or folks who have actually dealt with this please. Thanks.
Oh, Stylish! Thank you so much. I’ll certainly speak to my Drs. about Protein C & S. I’m all new to this! Like I said, they put me on Lovenox shots immediately Wednesday evening at 11pm, then started me on Coumadin Fri evening at dinner. So now I’m at home with the Oxy, Lovenox shots, & coumadin until I see my Drs. either Thursday or Frid. to f-up and see where we go. Thank you for explaining it further! My husband kept asking me, was it in the return or outgo, and even though I’m lay trained, I’m not scientific, more creative so I hadn’t a clue what he was talking about! Then the nurses Thursday and Frid. so sweet told me exactly what was going on. Dr.s can be very evasive ya know. This, that, this! then have a nice night! See you tomorrow! Ugh!
Well, I certainly appreciate you stopping by and taking the time to explain. thank you. Barbara
Stylish, They took so much blood in the hosp. that they must have run the tests for that because I looked it up at this site:

http://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/protein_c_and_s/test.html#when

Thanks again and I will ask Drs. when I see them aside from possible tests in hosp.
Also found this site for the genetics end of it: Very interesting!

http://www.bookrags.com/research/heterozygous-and-homozygous-wog/