broken clavicle...surgery or not?

jb992

I recently broke my collarbone and i was wondering if there are any supplements you can take to help the healing process quicken?

thx

ollie allen

Hi - I have found out today that after breaking left clavicle 9 months ago at hockey, and wearing the sling and discomfort for 6 weeks, then thinking all this time the break was joining together, and the large lump was normal - there has been a non union and that surgery is more than likely the only option. Great!

For those of you who have had the surgery, was a plate the only option offered?
What was the recovery time/ time off work etc. and back to 'normal''

thanks..

WarrenG

Maybe not, but I found a study that showed improved healing times with plenty of arginine and lysine. These are available in relatively large amounts in meats and yogurt. They're also inexpensive as a supplement. Vitamin D from milk and sunshine (yes, that's what your body needs to make it), and calcium and magnesium wouldn't hurt either.

shorty

broke mine 3 weeks ago today........sent home in sling. a horrible week. back to hospital a week later for follow up x ray. i was given the option of surgery as the bones were overlapping by over 1 inch. they told me that it would heal as is -but that my shoulder would be "short" and "lump" pretty large.

i went for the surgery option..that was 2 weeks ago today. my pain was significantly reduced immediately. my range of movement went from 20% to 60 % immediatley.

Ti plate ...about 3 inches long only option offered - but i didnt ask for another. what do you want carbon ?!!

i was able to sit on a stationary bike at the gym 1 week later. i have done 3 gym sessions and 2 spin classes since.

now. 3 weeks post break and 2 weeks post surgery i have 80-90% range of movement. still cant/shouldnt use the arm for any thing that requires force but i can drive. pick up my 8 kg daughter and do spin classes. im pretty happy with the outcome so far.

oste

I would be interested to hear if any one else has sustained a non-union type of bone knit?
Sorry bout the long email but it is a 2 year story...
I broke my right collarbone at 33yo in a cycling fall in 2004 while in the north of Thailand. The fractured bone knitted at a bone tag in the break and I continued to wear the sling for 6 weeks. The Doctors tell me the fracture in my clavicle is joined by callous/fibrous bone material that has not calcified. Once the bone knitted my right collarbone has hinged and pivoted, the fractured bone is still separate in the x-rays (1 cm) and slightly over lapping at the join, maybe .5 -1cm. I also managed to break/crack the new forming bone in the first month without realizing until a subsequent x-ray in 2004.
While registered on a public health waiting list I would cross my fingers and work with food and exercise towards helping calcium form in the callous. It didn’t well not enough, which I am told is unusual and my doctor cant offer any examples of this type of union or how it will age. If I pause and think about it, it is a little painful most of the time even though my shoulder as a whole is quite strong. I earn a living working manually and have a full range of movement. I do feel pain in the fracture when lifting weight directly in front of me with arms out stretched. Fortunately, after 2 years I can now sleep on my right side.
My physiotherapist believes I have adapted well will a full range of movement and believes the operation may be beneficial in the long term.
My number has come up! After two consultations viewing my recent x-rays I have enough excess bone around that will allow me to skip the hip graft operation. Good news I believe.
Now, after seeing a replacement doctor I am considering giving the operation a miss. The doctor assigned to me is not confident the benefits will out weigh the risks. I am taking a month to think about it, get a second opinion and do a bit of research - the reason I am here…
Would appreciate hearing about any similar cases?

Good luck and good health

Steve

oste

Hi Mate,
I am in Melbourne, my story is on page 8 of the broken clavicle...surgery or not? forum. Could you pass on the details of these doctors in Sydney please?

macca99

Hi Guys,

I have broken my collar bone a total of four times now. I have had three different screws through the bone marrow and two different bone grafts to help in the healing process. All of the breaks are a result of rugby. In my experience you need a good orthopaedic surgeon who specialises in shoulders and who has performed many of these operations before. I would recommend a screw over a plate (current screw I have in my collar bone is 12.5cm) because screws can be stronger, don’t irritate the skin like some plates can and a screw can stay in for life. This being said I did manage to bend a 12cm titanium screw and in doing so broke the bone again (this I am told is somewhat of a medical anomaly and there are only a few cases like it). My original surgery was done in Melbourne but all other surgery in Sydney. If you’re looking for a good surgeon in Sydney you can’t go past the guys at Sydney Orthopaedic http://www.sydneyortho.com.au.

Elfie

Hi There Guys! How's it goin for ya'll ?

I'm Elfie here, turning 21 this year. Just Like to share a part of my story.

Broken Collarbone - Jan 15th 2006. (Motorbike Accident)
Outcome, Possible Non-union Joint so i Had Plate & Screw Implant Done & a Hip Bone Graft on - FEB 28th 2006.

I got an infection on the both end sides of my 5 - 5 1/2 inch stitch. (This was probably due to my long term acne & heads problem i had (due to sensitive skin) .. I was already warned on that before my operation.
This lead to a days' surgery to remove some stiches which exposed a 4cm wide and 4cm deep hole which i could even see alittle of my plate and bone. (all this had to be done for proper healing due to the infection.)

The Hip area healed really well and fast. No problems on that, Thankgod.

It was a difficult time for me. I was really depressed but always kept on fighting and eventually with lots of wound care, cleaning, rest & plenty of antiboitics i got it healed in 2 months time. Yes... it was long... But i'm happy it finally healed.

Today, is July 6 (4-5 months already since my Op i presume? )

I'm feeling really good... i have about 99% mobility... And life is starting to look better once again.

I need some help from you guys, U see... I'm very active, I love jogging & gym.. But the truth is, After JAN 15, i've not done any of those. Bcos i fear i might cause some problems with the plate and my bone.

Is it ok if i start back pushups, chinups, benchpress & dumbells? I need some positive feedbacks. I'm planning to do so in the starting of august. August 2nd is my bifdae so on August 1st! i'm gonna give myself an early present and head down to the gym.

I am also looking forward to remove my plate in abt 9 months time to a year or 2 which also depends alot on when my studies will end. I'd like to get some pointers on those who have had theirs removed? Anyone willing to share ?

Plz do reply. Hope to hear from all of you'll soon. My best wishes to you'll and speedy recovery to everyone. Take Care.

Remember, LIVE TO RIDE! But always RIDE WITH LIFE!

BillBB

Hi, Elfie-
I broke my collarbone on Oct 26 2005. I had a 2.5 cm displacement and the bones were close but were not touching. The Dr. recommended that I not have surgery. The recoup was long and very, very painful. But after the eighth week I started feeling noticeably better. I started doing some bench presses with ridiculously low weight. I slowly progressed to more weight, making sure I didn't feel pain or discomfort. At the four month mark I decided to try to hang to see if I could do it. Not only was I able to hang, but much to my surprise, I did 4 pull-ups (fully extended)! Not that do pull-ups in my upper body routines, but with this injury I viewed doing pull-ups as the ultimate proof (to myself) that I was going to be ok. I then started doing pull- ups twice a week until I got up to ten, then stopped. Now I'm back to my normal two time a week upper body routine, which is 20 bicep curls w/ 25 lbs, 20 bench presses w/ 100 lbs. and 30 push-ups. This is very light stuff (I'm a cyclist ), but that is what I was doing before the accident, so I guess I'm back to normal. I also started running again somewhere between the third and the fourth month. Again, I started jogging very slowly, and played it by ear. By the fourth or fifth month I was back to my usual once a week 2.5 mile run .
I would recommend to you to first get your Drs. ok to start doing weights and running. Once you get your Dr's go ahead, then start working out w/ baby weights and keep progressing in small increments (as long as there is no pain or discomfort). Use the same approach with running. I really believe that weight training and the pull-ups added stress to my healing collarbone, so it probably helped it to heal stronger, But this preceding sentence is just my personal opinion
I'm 49 yrs old , so you should have no problems.
You'll do great. Keep a positive attitude and you will be back to normal in no time ! Keep us posted

ozone

I broke my collarbone in a biking accident in May 2005. The bone was overlapped by about 2 cm and there were a couple of small pieces broken off. The doc said it would heal fine without surgery, but gave me the option. I declined surgery. The bone was pretty well healed in 8 weeks, but didn't feel real strong for a few additional months. My biggest problem was that I lost shoulder mobility (down to ~30%) and needed 3 months of physical therapy. It was a long and painful process: 2 hours of shoulder stretching exercises daily for 3 months. I still think I made the right decision for me, as the risks of surgery are not trivial. But if surgery allowed mobility at an earlier date, it might have saved me the painful PT. I'm 50, btw, and the shoulder problems were caused by swelling and scar tissue inside the shoulder joint, not by the initial injury.

duhhuh

I had a car wreck January 5, 1978. I broke my right collar bone and also C4 and C7. My doctor was a pretty well known surgeon in the area and advised against surgery for me. The risk of infection, rejection of the pin, and several other ugly sounding side-effects, convinced me to go the conservative route and I am glad that I did. I was back to work in three months, doing heavy construction work and have been fine since. Biggest problem I have is a totally unrelated herniated disc at L4-L5 and badly bulged L5-S1. I have a small lump where the bones overlap, but no ill effects. I can't say what is right for you, but for me, the conservative route was the best.

musher

Hi, i broke mine 5 weeks a go, 4 brakes 1 brake with the bone overlapping .Rebroken 4 weeks later : supplements working well for me recom. by a friend Doc. "lots of Calcium citrate with Mag. & zinc ,Potassium, Glutamine". I did't have a surgery, But if you are a Pro.it's a fastest way to get back racing. Afriend broke is collarbone the same weekend than me ,for the 4 th time, is dad (a surgeon ) told him to go for the surgery ,but againe he is a Pro .he use to ride for Health Net and know he is in france riding for Confidi, "Tyler Fa. " ,he did't loose much fitness but had to stay out of the sprints for few weeks. Good luck .

Elfie

Thanks Billbb, A little info goes a long way. Im glad to know your doing well.

I'll strive for that goal of fitness once again. The best thing to do now would be asking my doctor abt it before i start gym. From the last 3 replies i guess none had done the surgery..

Really looking forward to some replies from those who have had the surgery and strived on for their fitness after a few months. Keep the replies coming guys!

Will definately update on my well-being over time. Kudos!

Dustin07

Boy Howdy Folks!

I found this thread while searching "broken collarbone" and "metal plate."

I'm 23, so in that 'in between stage' where I hit harder than I used to, but still heal somewhat quick I think.

On wednesday the 5th I broke mine racing BMX, first race back in 8 years. Two days later (I did go to the ER that night and got a sling) an Orthopedic PA said I'll likley get a plate or pin, but put me in a figure 8 for this last weekend (4 days inbetween visits) to see if it helps to align the bone. He xrayed it after putting it on and it didn't look any better than it did in the ER, IMO.

However, I meet with an Ortho Dr. tomorrow to decide on the next step. the PA told me the plate was a great way to go because it aids in healing straighter, and without the lump. He said the scarring lump could cause irritation when I'm backpacking.

After reading this thread, I'm hoping the dr. decides on a plate tomorrow! (or pin, but a plate would make a cooler tattoo, IMO) I'll keep y'all posted.

and btw, Just want to say my wife has been great, really taking super care of me while I've been slightly handicapped.