Clavicle fractures occur in both adults and children quite often, in most cases as a result of a fall on the arm or shoulder. A similar trauma can occur in a newborn during childbirth. Also, such a fracture can be obtained due to acute muscle contraction, which occurs, for example, with an attack of epilepsy.
Types of injury
Depending on the localization, three types of fractures are distinguished : the internal, external and middle third of the clavicle. The thinnest place of the bone is the middle third, often it breaks. In addition, collarbone fractures can be closed and open, although the latter are quite rare; without bias and with it.
Symptoms
Typically, clavicle fractures are accompanied by a number of characteristic symptoms. Immediately in the affected area, pain occurs, the forearm swells. It becomes quite difficult to make any movements with the injured limb, the victim cannot raise his hand up. If such an injury is accompanied by displacement of the fragments, the injured limb becomes longer, the damaged joint, in comparison with a healthy one, decreases and can strongly protrude forward. If this affects the sensitivity, as well as the mobility of the fingers and the whole hand, then there is a chance of damage to nerves and blood vessels. It is worth saying that in young children, of all the listed symptoms, only such as swelling and slight pain can be observed, some children, in the presence of a fracture, can almost freely use an injured arm. Therefore, even with seemingly minor damage, you should definitely undergo a radiography.
First aid for clavicle fracture
Before professional assistance is provided to the victim, a number of measures must be taken that would not only alleviate the condition of the injured, but also avoid all kinds of complications, such as damage to veins, arteries, nerves. To reduce pain, any available analgesic should be taken. It is strictly forbidden to independently try to fix bone fragments into place. In the armpit of the victim, you need to put a tightly rolled up coma or piece of tissue, bend your arm at the elbow and hang it on a scarf that is attached to the neck. If there are open wounds, they should be treated with any bactericidal agent. After this, you should expect the arrival of an ambulance or lead the victim to a medical facility on his own. During transportation, the patient should be in a sitting position.
Treatment
A broken collarbone quite easily grows together in young children, therefore, as a therapeutic measure, it is enough to apply an ordinary bandage of wide bandages to the affected area , which fixes the bone in a special way. Children older than three years of age and adults are ineffective in treating collarbone fractures with this method, they need to fix the bone with a plaster cast. In fractures complicated by displacement, a special splint is used to return the fragments to the correct position, sometimes surgical intervention is performed. A fairly severe injury is a collarbone fracture. Its consequences can consist (in case of improper fusion of fragments) in a persistent violation of the motor function of the hand and even its absolute immobility.