Broken Clavicle - Your experiences

[PlemPlem]

All breaks are different. So all stories are different. Position of fracture and the location of your shoulder will guide the need for an operation to insert a plate or to let it heal naturally. Don’t jump on the OP too quickly and discuss the options with your surgeon. At the end it is important to get the shoulder back at the right place for your long term enjoyment of life.

 

I found that my doctor recommended the OP a bit too quickly. I queried it and then he supported me to proceed without the OP. Retrospectively I am very happy with that decision. The initial recovery is slower without OP but you don’t need a second recovery period and cost after the plate removal OP (which not all medical aid will pay). And the body is amazing how it heals, as long everything is straight and lined up. It grows bone where there is stress. So do your physio

 

Don’t rush in getting back on the bike. Let common sense guide you. If it feels right do your IDT thing. Wait until you can do push-ups without pain before hitting the mountains again . I started commuting after about 4 weeks (slow riding, not training) but decided to wait 3 months before MTB.

 

Some advice to the cost of the exercise (based on my experience with Discovery)

1) It is NOT an emergency. So the cost of the trauma treatment and your choice of aftercare (OP or not) depends on your chosen plan.

2) My medical aid authorized the OP and would have paid the full cost.

3) my choice to not do the OP meant that it was not a hospital procedure but out-of-hospital treatment so I had to pay it from own pocket. My medical aid was not impressed by my argument that I saved the scheme R15000 for that OP in exchange for R3000 worth of doctors visits.

4) the OP to remove the plate would not have been paid for with my plan. So ask.

 

Good luck and recover well

 

 

 

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I have broken both sides. The right one in 2001 was in two pieces, the left one in 2017 was in three! Both times I had a plate inserted to screw the clavicle back together.  On both occasions my Orthopedic surgeon told me to get back on the IDT within 3- 4 days. After that, I was back on the road after six weeks.

Then removed the plates after one year. Medical Aid paid all costs at each occasion as they are all related to the same incident at that time. Get your quack to spell it out in detail during the op authorization.

Without the plates you run the risk of not achieving a straight shoulder/ clavicle recovery and live with residual problems.

Both my shoulders are perfect without pain or any sort of loss of feeling or strength. 

I would certainly recommend the op route as the initial hassle might be bad but the resultant recovery is just so much quicker.

[DieselnDust]

I've broken both.

first in 2005 was a clean break and that healed on its own, arm in a sling for a month. By the end of month two I rode Sani2C. it was a tough three days but I got through it.

 

second fracture was comminuted, so that needed a plate, and 8 screws. 5months later I've not checked in with the surgeon as to when I could/should have the plate removed as its not bothering me currently. It does feel like we may have rain tomorrow though but that's not a given yet.

 

to remove or not to remove, that is the question (to be answered by your surgeon and medical aid)

[Muttley]

So I went for a slippy slide on the MTB last Feb (just before lock down) and fortunately landed in some soft grass- the result, broken clavicle but not bad enough to warrant surgery....

 

You can see my inactivity from the time it happened until I hit the IDT for the remainder of last year... I seriously wouldn't rush and let your body heal up properly... your fitness will come back in no time! As others have said, listen to your body and what the doc says.

 

As a result, the Mrs won't let me ride outside until I'm vaccinated... My mates call me captain co-ord

[peetwindhoek]

What I have found is that with the forced rest, you might actually come back stronger...

[Help.Me.]

I agree.

 

I broke mine and had plate inserted in December.

 

Took about 10 days off the bike and then started slowly on IDT while arm was still in sling and water proof wound dressing still on... gradually build it up.

 

After about 3 months I was riding outside and found that I have hardly lost any fitness ( Wahoo Kickr is one of the best "investments" I ever made ). 

This and then join Trainer Road and do the 6 week Base building....its not that hard but will keep you busy......

[Rapunzel]

I'm resurrecting this thread as it appears the Bikehub community collectively has more collarbone experience than your average orthopedic surgeon 😂

Has anybody had issues with a swelling above the clavicle some time after a plate was put in? If so, are you living with it or did you get the plate removed? (or was it something else?)

My plate has been in for 3 years and a substantial swelling popped up above the collarbone late last year. Sonar shows it to be a fluid filled cyst and the doc suggested a ct scan and debating to go for CT first or to go back to surgeon first.

[JJDT]

For me had my first plate in for 10 years before I broke it again and had the old removed and replaced by a new one. It is now 3 years with no swelling and even with the old plate never had any issues. The only issue now it seems that my "alignment" is slightly out. Standing in front of the mirror the one side is not exactly in alignment with the left shoulder which is fine.

[BuffsVintageBikes]

Same thing happened to me as well @JJDT. Broke mine in 2008, had a small plate put in and never had it removed as it didn't bother me too much. Then broke it again in 2024, right next to the existing plate. They took out the old one, put in a longer one that covers the whole clavicle and was instructed to rather have this one removed because if I fall again, something else might break before the titanium plate fails. Haven't had any further issues.

I'd certainly have it sorted out asap @Rapunzel, the last thing you need is a bone infection.

[Alouette3]

Chat to the specialist or at least drop his rooms an email. Don't trust the collective for medical advise

Most specialists won't remove the plate, only if it's actually giving issues. In your case you might have issues. 

My plate is still in +6 years later. No issues with swelling etc. Can actually make out where the plate is. Still some strange sensations if you touch the area.

[ChrisF]

I had a femer fracture.  It was set with a plate ... back in 1986 ...

 

Few years later it was "interesting" how the specialists had different opinions about removing it .... rolled the dice, and had it removed.

 

 

Would be interesting to get a couple of orthos around a braai fire and to ger the low down on pros and cons ....

[Mook]

6 hours ago, Rapunzel said:

I'm resurrecting this thread as it appears the Bikehub community collectively has more collarbone experience than your average orthopedic surgeon 😂

Has anybody had issues with a swelling above the clavicle some time after a plate was put in? If so, are you living with it or did you get the plate removed? (or was it something else?)

My plate has been in for 3 years and a substantial swelling popped up above the collarbone late last year. Sonar shows it to be a fluid filled cyst and the doc suggested a ct scan and debating to go for CT first or to go back to surgeon first.

It is called a "ganglion cyst", common in, but not limited to hands and/or wrists. They seem to appear randomly after truama to the bone, joint or tendon. 

Had such a cyst 2 years after a radial fracture of my wrist.

Ortho surgeon drained it and dozed me with cortizone. Its been gone for 8 years now.

Google "ganglion"

[capediver]

6 hours ago, Rapunzel said:

I'm resurrecting this thread as it appears the Bikehub community collectively has more collarbone experience than your average orthopedic surgeon 😂

Has anybody had issues with a swelling above the clavicle some time after a plate was put in? If so, are you living with it or did you get the plate removed? (or was it something else?)

My plate has been in for 3 years and a substantial swelling popped up above the collarbone late last year. Sonar shows it to be a fluid filled cyst and the doc suggested a ct scan and debating to go for CT first or to go back to surgeon first.

Google should be limited to: "Best Orthopedic section closest to me"...and then plot a route to their rooms...use Waze, better routing display than Google Maps!