broken clavicle...surgery or not? - Page 38

Help! My teen daughter broke her clavicle about 4 weeks ago and it has started to grow back together but is overlaping. Her orthoped. thinks it looks ok but we are worried that being slightly offset is going to interfere with her symetry and balance. She cycles competively and has the potential for professional advancement. Has anyone had the same experience that can offer some insight.

If you're concerned, seek a second opinion, but if an orthopod thinks it looks fine....it might be. Have discussed your concerns with the orthopod?

FWIW, it's pretty common for bone ends to overlap in clavicle fractures and for those fractures to be allowed to heal without surgical intervention.

Your best bet is to discuss your concerns with the doc and maybe seek a second opinion, if you're still concerned after said discussion. Asking medical advice online can be a lot like letting Bernard Madoff handle your investments.

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Skidding through perdition....

Thank you for your reply Alienator. We are currently seeking a second opinion. It is actually her coach that has the true concern for alignment. I agree with your comment about medical advice online. I guess I am really wondering if any other cyclists have noticed a difference in their pedal stroke and or any overcompensation of other parts of their body due to the change in their sholder alignment. Not so much medical advice but experience advice from other cyclist whom have experienced the same issue.

Hi bikingfamily,

I broke my clavicle about 6 months ago and decided not to have it surgically repaired. I have a little bit of overlap and the bone has managed to heal. I think it really depends on the amount of overlap you have, but I figured I would post my situation because I have full range of movement and functionality. I lift weights 4 days a week with no pain or discomfort. The only bummer is the alignment of the bones makes it very uncomfortable to wear backpacks, guitar straps etc. I think that if I were to have had the plate and screws installed it still would have been uncomfortable, so I'm happy with my decision. I hope your second opinion works out and wish the best of luck for your daughter!

Hi, this is my experience. I´m 22 years old and I broke my right clavicle 8 months ago and after all this boring healing process I refractured it 3 weeks ago and the surgery was my only option. I got a plate and 6 screws on my collarbone and a bone graft from my left tibia ( not too bad). This is my 4th day after surgery, I´m taking my pain medicine only when i go in bed.....this process is frustrating and bored but it´s the best way to recover your life as soon as possible, of course no one wants a big scar (I´m a girl and it was my concern) but it´s a small price, also I was frightened about the surgery and the pain but now I undestand that everybody is different and tolerates the pain a different was. I hope this can help some of you to make a future decision

Hi mila!

You did the right thing. Doctors don't normally recommend surgery for this type of break, so that means if he said you needed it then you most likely did. Don't worry about the scar. Treat it with some Vitamin E and it will fade with time. I think scars are sexy on chicks

Good luck and speedy healing!

-Brad

Lance Armstrong's clavical break images:
An Update on Lance Armstrong’s Collarbone | BicycleSpokesman.com

Anyone know if he's ever going to get his plate removed?

I heard that he had his entire collar bone removed and replaced by a titanium stainless steel implant.

You mean this link?
Carbon Clavicle Implant Aids Lance Armstrong’s Recovery | Bikeridr

This looks like a hoax. I can't find any further confirmation of this.

That story is a big pile of goat excrement that's been sitting in the hot sun for 5 or 6 hours.

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Skidding through perdition....

Correct. Note the date... April 1st...

ER doctor looked at the x-ray and said 'broken collarbone, see the orthopedic surgeon, wait here' Surgeon came over 10mins later and said 'do you want a pin or a plate?' I had one clean break about 3cm from the end of the collarbone but clear of the AC joint. the surgeon was really high on the plate w/hook so I had him put that in a while I took a nap, just few hours after initial consultation. i guess the 'protrusion' at the end of the plate (hook) sticks thru the AC joint somewhere... it looks really good on film (x-ray) but it feels quite crunchy now that the arm is in use. After 1 week of no sleep due to pain (no comfortable position possible) I was able to manage a few hours in the easy chair then wake up for an hour or so to get feeling back in the arm, take meds and let the pain subside so I could get another couple of hours sleep. it was like that for the following week. I never got any strong pain killer tho, some tylenol hybrid was all they gave me and it never made the pain go away, maybe took the edge off is all. I am 3 weeks post/op and worried about rehab... the doctor saw new x-rays last week and said everything is great but didnt want to talk about physical therapy until 6 weeks! I was thinking maybe that is due to insurance constraints. Can anyone share rehab schedule with the forum? Doc did say I can go without the sling but no lifting or raising the arm more than about 45 degrees... I think isometrics for the shoulder should help tendons that might have stretched and fight scar tissue forming but what do I know... advice welcome!

You'll have a hard time finding a PT willing to start therapy that early, without doctor's consent (in some states, you don't need a prescription for PT, but in the case about which you're asking....well....the PT would be assuming a big liability....). After I crashed motorcycle racing and ended up with 26+ fractures in my chest and neck, including 4 in my collarbone, I was able to start therapy 4 weeks after the accident but only because my father-in-law owned the PT clinic and the therapist was a family friend (I wanted to get back to racing as quickly as possible). I can tell you this: it wasn't fun and required that I load up on pain killers before each visit.

Waiting 6 weeks may actually allow you to get back in the swing of things more quickly, as after 6 weeks you'll likely be able to tolerate PT better and push harder. PT at the wrong time can cause setbacks.

You should talk with your orthod to see if starting PT early is an option, and if so, if it's a smart option.

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Skidding through perdition....

thanks for the help/advice, sorry for my late reply this week flew by trying to do some alternative training, stairs, situps, squats (deep knee bends really) etc. shoulder is both improving and giving me more trouble, which is expected I think since the inside is healing, sometimes its looser and hurts and sometimes tighter and more comfortable. I must have really ripped up my tendons through the shoulder in my fall... bicep turned totally bruised this week (2 weeks after the surgery) doh! but sleeping is improving!

thanks again

curby

hi new to the forum broke my collar bone in the isle of man nearly three weeks ago sorry on an enduro bikehad the plate and eight screws had the sling on and off in this time went to my local hospital in hull today wanted the sling off altogether and to get back to the gym and biking still in a bit of pain but just missing my bike went on the static bike and treadmill on a fast walk last night any how the doctor told me today he might have to re operate because one of the screws on the shoulder end is too long goes right threw the bone and into another bone?so he is on about taking it out and putting one in the same size as the rest any one else got this problem or heard of it?thanks Steve