broken clavicle...surgery or not? - Page 34

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

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

Thanks for sharing.

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

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

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.

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

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.php...1/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

Hey Rory and other newbie’s, here is the video again.

Please take the time to watch it.

If you cannot not make up your mind, go to another doctor and get a second opinion. We all know that it's a hassle to go to other doctors, so find another one in your network, make the appointment, sit down in the office and fill out the insurance forms and pay your little co-pay.

Of course being new patient this new doctor might rush you out (typical) or, he might give you some excellent advice.

Try and find one that’s in with a bunch of other orthopedics specialists like I did. I was lucky, I am a cyclist, I race part time. In that group of Orthopedics that I stumble up on in was an Orthopedic surgeon that was a semi pro cyclist, and that’s all he did was repair other cyclist color bones and shoulders.

He used the best stuff on me. And he has seen and repaired ever kind of clavicle collar bone break.

My collar bone was broke in 3 pieces. There was no question about getting it plated.



But again look at the video link below. Good luck.


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

No one broke their clavicle since march of this year?

If nobody has, then that is great news, is it not?

This thread is a great resource. A quick *bump* will be enough to get it to the top of the pile again.

Broke my clavicle 1 week ago in bicycle vs car accident, me on the bike...and under the car.

Went in for week-after check at fracture clinic and found out it's broken in two places with 2cm gap between one of the breaks that doc said may form a 'fibrous' union. They looked at it and basically didn't really give me a choice - 'we'll plate that' doc says looking at me for my reply, me uncertain, 'oookay'. doc walks out of room and his understudy fixes up the paperwork. My surgery is next week.

What's all this talk of choice, and healing naturally? My impression is that if there's a separation in the bone get it pinned/plated/whatever.

Having to wait a week for the fracture clinic appointment was annoying. My surgery will be two weeks after accident. Does anyone think the delay will be a problem?

FYI: Left clavical. Left arm fully operational but can't salute Hitler. Broken clavical protrudes under skin and is annoying.

Edit:
Better just clarify that the break with the 2cm gap is near the shoulder end, with other break in the middle. Looks like end breaks are more likely to be plated? Maybe that's why there wasn't much discussion of natural heal.

Might see if I can get an appointment with another doctor see what they say. So far all advice has come from Royal Brisbane Hospital here in Brisbane. Biggest hospital in this city of 4 million so I figure they gotta know what they're doing.

I broke mine Aug 22nd, ran over a dog Killed the dog but went down hard. Bone was broke mid-shoulder with a 1 inch chunk overlapping both ends almost a "Z" shape.
I was on my trainer at 10 days, at 2 weeks doc let me ride outside working my way up in mileage. 15 miles to start then more as I was comfortable. At 8 weeks I rode back to back 60 miles days(and was sore as hell). By 3 months, Nov 22nd I rode the Tour De Tucson race 109 miles in 5 hr 16 minutes and last week was back on my MTB for our weekly night rides. I am still getting my courage back up, riding at night plus back on the MTB after 3 months

Very little loss of movement or range, left arm was week from no lifting for 3 months but I am doing yoga strength for that, light weight work as well. Painfull as hell for the first several weeks, sleeping was the worst, every time you roll over you wake up. Now, I will aim to kill when I see a dog

It's been 14 months since i broke my clv in 3 pieces. got the ti plate. went through pt and all that stuff. i took my time getting back on the bike and riding in the club. i started to peak later in august and sept.of this year. anyway, it's best to get the plate. i dont even feel mine now. i lsft weight and push up and ride over 100 miles on the weekend on my road bike with fast guys. avg speed is 22-23 mph. Also I had to wait a whole week before i got sugery and the bone was sticking up like a little tent. i promise you, you will be ok once the surgery is over and you let your body handle the healing. just dont do nothing stupid like trying to ride real far to soon or lift heavy weights. let me know if youneed further details. gotta run

An update to those that have read my previous posts way back on page 24.

It’s now been almost a year and 1/2 since the surgery, and all is looking good.

The numbness has gone away, the strength has returned, the only lasting effects are little divot and a little bump, and I can not throw a ball as far as I could in the past...that however, could be an age thing as I approach 40.


I still see little on the single screw/pin method, which surprises me as I needed no rehab/physical therapy and have 99% of the motion of the other arm.



Overall, in my opinion, in my case the surgery was a positive.



Steve

I wasn't even given the option -- surgery was required, as the collarbone was in 6 pieces. Now I have a stainless plate and 8 screws, anchoring a collarbone to an arthritic shoulder that is so deteriorated, it looks like a separation in x-rays. Does 'come loose' repeatedly....

Most of the mobility is back, after 4 months; can't scratch the back of my left shoulder (R c-bone was broken), and lifting is compromised, but I'm back riding, and that's the biggest thing. I can still work, I can still ride; I just can't wrestle my little nephew anymore (stout little snot!).

Never broke a bone before I turned 40; now, a week short of 50, I have three (each wrist, too, at separate times over the last 6 years).

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