broke my collart bone- looking for ideas

[svandamme]

recent developments with pvc tubes might be something for your colarbone? no?

[Tim Hancock]

The diagonal drop on my left side is at least 2" and it healed fine.

[charleskieffner]

my boss has crashed and burned so many times road racing bikes that ortho-sturgeon, stated he will be crippled for life, the next time he breaks either one. did he stop road racing????? hell no! he is in the running for the coveted lifetime "king of pain award".

[GeorgeK]

If you can not stay quiet for the time it will take to heal naturally, I would go surgery.
A thing to consider in these large displacement breaks is that your left shoulder will get closer to the midline, therefore you will be asymetrical...
Me? I would go knife, if only because it will hurt less, quicker.

[Noah930]

Need to know more about you. How old are you? How active are you? What do you do for a living? Any other problems from this accident (nerve injury, other fractures, skin compromise, etc)?

Reasons for fixing it: shortening of 20 mm (absolute indication), displacement of 20 mm (relative indication) b/c these increase the chances for non-union. Skin compromise (if the bone's gonna poke through).

FWIW, the ortho chief resident sitting next to me says he'd fix it. Can't use all the other peoples' experiences on this board for comparison--unless they can pony up their xrays.

edit: Other chief resident says you could go either way. He recalls a pt he did about 2-3 weeks after the injury--the bone was starting to heal, and he thinks it was more trouble to take the fracture apart than if they had just left if alone. But that's not necessarily something you know going into the surgery at that point. However, if you choose to have surgery, it's a lot easier to do it within about 2 wks of the injury, than if you wait longer than that.

[AFC-911]

I broke my left clavicle 3 years ago, although mine was broken all the way through, my bones were still aligned.

It took about 4-6 weeks to heal properly. I wore a brace the entire time (ok, most of the time). It only hurt when I moved it.

**I'm amazed that so many Pelicans have broken their collarbones!! And I'm sure that none would want to ever do it again. Oh, and I can feel the pain just by looking at your x-rays!!!

ps- Don't run full-speed on brick streets when it's raining really hard.

[Rodeo]

I've never broken my collar bone.

And I've never saved a lot of money on my car insurance. I think GEICO dropped me. Fcukers.

Get well Pete!

[K9Torro]

I broke my left collar bone while doing martial arts exercises when I was 16 YOA , it was a clean break with about an inch and a half on the x-rays. I heard it pop it was that loud, I opted out of surgery and wore the brace while it healed and slept in a semi seated position in a recliner in the living room.

After it healed I had and still have a knot there but no other complications, I have led and still lead a very active lifestyle without any complications.

Good luck either way,

Todd

[kjb]

Leland,

I broke my left collar bone into three pieces flying over the handlebars on my mountainbike about 4 years ago. I was 27 years old at the time.

My x-rays looked similar to yours, but the middle piece was a bit shorter. My doctor recommended surgery and I took it. I now have a metal plate and a nice scar.

I didn't have any complications, but I remember my doctor saying that low blood-flow at the end of the clavicle can be a problem sometimes. Don't keep still for too long, or you'll develop "frozen shoulder".

I supposedly tore a bunch of ligaments too (2nd degree AC separation?), but I haven't missed them.

It's a journey, but you'll get through it. My left shoulder was a bit weaker and more sensitive until I started taking boxing classes. Now it doesn't bother me anymore, except for when I forget to put sun tan lotion on the scar.

Hang in there,

Johan

[fastpat]

Originally posted by livi
Lee,

I am no orthopedic surgeon of course, but being around colleagues discussing this topic, I would personally leave it alone.

Only a simple pediatricians unprofessional view though...

As an OR nurse specializing in Orthopeadics, this is the best advice. Don't mess with it unless it becomes a painful issue. We have a surgery called the Mumford Procedure, which is preformed both open and arthrospcopically, that can relieve that, but only if it's a problem.

Do what the therapy nurses tell you to do.

[fastpat]

Originally posted by Leland Pate
i've never been under the knife before. and i'd like to stay away from it if possuble. the doc said if it was his shoulder he'd leave it aloone. i was just looking for some other opinions fropm those who have been thriugh this,

heres a picture:



yikes, huh.

Hmmm, once the discomfort of the trauma is over, revisit the issue with your DR. Collar bones are less important than fibula's are, which is to say if you're not in the NFL, it's should not be an issue.

Tell us what you think in two weeks.

[charleskieffner]

orthopedic-STURGEONS! LOL!

[xlr8]

Good luck with the C-bone, Lee

http://www.aboutonehandtyping.com/

[TSNAPCRACKLEPOP]

fix it. i think you can get a replacement in fiberglass too. in a week, the healing will already in progress. i say this should be fixed now to get the best use and strength and joint range of motion in the future.

this is not medical advice, consult a physician in person.

[svandamme]

Originally posted by TSNAPCRACKLEPOP
fix it. i think you can get a replacement in fiberglass too

dude, this a is a Porsche forum
when talking performance light weight replacement parts

ALWAYS mention the CF/Titanium alternative to FG.

[Gene Wilkes]

Have it PINNED! You won't regret it!

[craigster59]

I've broken bones and detached muscles (although never a collar bone) and I would avoid surgery unless absolutely necessary. Let it heal naturally, and who knows, maybe you'll be able to pop your shoulder out of socket on demand and do the Houdini "Escape from the Straight Jacket" trick at parties. Seriosly though, heal up and get better..

[Erik Mckenna]

I broke mine the very same way but due to a mountain bike crash... I simply let it heal on it own. I didn't want to go under the knife. It works great today and it's been 7 years now since it happened. and yeah I have a big bump on my left shoulder but I simply don't care about that stuff..
good luck man.

-Em

[CRH911S]

When I saw 52nd Medical Group the first thing that came to my mind is to get a second opinion from from a private sector ortho. I injured the left many years ago and it healed by itself. Except for a visible knot it doesn't bother me and never has for that matter. Godspeed....
Clinton

[Joe Bob]

I had the "Let nature take it's course" option from my HMO when I blew out my Achilles....12 weeks with my toes flexed downward with the "hope" that the tendon halves would send out tendrils and eventually reunite....all the while on crutches or a wheel chair.....

Ya right....got a second opinion, was immediately whisked into surgery and was walking 4 weeks later.

Get another opinion.

BTW...chicks dig scars....