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The collarbone (also called the clavicle) is the bone that connects the breastbone to the shoulder. A broken collarbone, also called a clavicle fracture, is when this bone breaks.
Kids can get a collarbone fracture by falling hard on a shoulder or an outstretched arm, or if their shoulder hits against something or someone (for example, while playing contact sports).
Someone who breaks a collarbone might have:
To diagnose a collarbone fracture, health care providers ask about how the injury happened, do an exam, and order X-rays.
Most broken collarbones heal with a sling and some rest. Sometimes kids might use a shoulder immobilizer instead of a sling. A shoulder immobilizer is like a sling, but also has a strap that goes around the waist. Ice and pain medicine help with pain and swelling. As your child starts feeling better, your health care provider may recommend some exercises or physical therapy to help improve strength.
Call your health care provider if your child has pain or swelling that gets worse.
Even if the broken bones aren't perfectly lined up, the body usually can make them straight again. That's because the collarbone has a thick periosteum (outer liner on the bone). The collarbone periosteum doesn't usually break, so it acts like a sleeve to hold the bone together while it heals. Rarely, the doctor might recommend surgery if the broken bones are very out of line.
Sometimes, there's a bump where the bone broke. In kids who are still growing, the bump tends to get smaller and go away within a year. Sometimes the bump doesn't fully go away. But it doesn't hurt or cause other problems with the arm or shoulder.
Your health care provider will see your child again and let you know when it's OK to go back to sports. This is usually when:
In general, kids can go back to noncontact sports (such as running or swimming) in about 6 weeks and contact sports (such as football, lacrosse, and hockey) in 8–12 weeks.
Most broken collarbones heal quickly and completely. Within a few months, kids usually can do everything they did before the injury.
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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