Fractures of the clavicle: causes, signs, treatment

Fractures of the clavicle occur both in adults and in children quite often, in most cases as a result of falling on the arm or shoulder. Such a trauma can occur in the newborn during labor. Also, such a fracture can be obtained because of acute muscle contraction, which occurs, for example, in an epileptic seizure.

Types of trauma

Depending on the localization, three types of fractures are distinguished : the inner, outer and middle thirds of the clavicle. The thinnest place of bone is the middle third, often it breaks. In addition, clavicle fractures can be closed and open, although the latter occur rarely; Without bias and with it.

Symptoms

Usually, clavicle fractures are accompanied by a number of characteristic symptoms. Immediately in the affected area there is pain, the forearm is swelling. To make any movements of a damaged limb becomes quite difficult, the victim can not lift his arm up. If such a trauma is accompanied by a displacement of the fragments, the injured limb becomes longer, the damaged joint is reduced in comparison with the healthy one and can be protruded strongly forward. If this affects the sensitivity, as well as the mobility of the fingers and the brush as a whole, that is, the probability of damage to nerves and blood vessels. It should be noted that in young children, of all the signs listed, only such as swelling and minor pain can be observed, while in the presence of a fracture, some children can use an injured hand almost freely. Therefore, even with seemingly minor damages, it is necessary to undergo roentgenography.

First aid for fracture of clavicle

Before the victim is provided with professional assistance, a number of measures must be taken to not only alleviate the condition of the injured, but also to avoid all sorts of complications, such as damage to the veins, arteries, nerves. To reduce pain, you should take any available analgesic. It is strictly forbidden to try to fix bone fragments on its own. In the armpit, the victim needs to put tightly rolled cotton wool or a piece of cloth, bend his elbow and hang it on a kerchief attached to the neck. If there are open wounds, they should be treated with a bactericidal agent. After this, one should expect the arrival of an ambulance or lead the victim to a medical institution on their own. During transportation the patient should be in a sitting position.

Treatment

Broken collarbone easily fuses in young children, so they as a therapeutic measure is enough to apply to the affected area of the usual bandage of wide bandages, fixing a special bone. Children older than three years of age and adults are ineffective in this way to treat fractures of the clavicle, they need to fix the bone with a plaster bandage. In fractures complicated by displacement, a special bus is used to return the fragments to the correct position, sometimes surgical intervention is performed. A rather serious injury is a fracture of the clavicle. The consequences of it can be (if the fractures are not correctly joined) in a persistent impairment of the motor function of the hand and even its absolute immobility.