Clavicle Fracture Treatment
The clavicle — or collarbone — is the bone that connects the shoulder to the chest, and it is one of the most commonly fractured bones in the body, accounting for roughly 5% of all orthopedic fractures in adults and an even higher percentage in children and adolescents. Clavicle fractures most often result from a direct fall onto the shoulder, a blow during contact sports like hockey, football, or rugby, or an outstretched-hand impact during a cycling or skiing accident. Because the middle portion of the clavicle is the thinnest and least supported, the majority of breaks occur there — though fractures can also involve the end of the bone where it meets the shoulder (the acromioclavicular joint) or the chest (the sternoclavicular joint). While many clavicle fractures can heal without surgery, displaced, shortened, or comminuted fractures often require surgical fixation to restore proper bone alignment, shoulder mechanics, and full upper extremity function.
Dr. Jonathan Glashow is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and Clinical Associate Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, with over 30 years of experience treating fractures and acute shoulder injuries. Clavicle fractures are among the most frequently seen injuries in professional contact sports — and as Chief Medical Officer for the New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia 76ers, Dr. Glashow has managed broken collarbones in elite athletes where precise surgical alignment and an accelerated return to competition are critical. His traveling shoulder fellowship training under Charles Rockwood, MD at the University of Texas Health Science Center and Richard Hawkins, MD at University Hospital London, Ontario — two of the most respected shoulder surgeons in the world — gives him a specialized understanding of how clavicle fractures affect the broader shoulder girdle and upper extremity kinetic chain. Named a Castle Connolly Top Doctor every year since 2000, he offers same-day X-rays, immediate evaluation, and emergency surgical capability for clavicle fractures at his Upper East Side practice in New York City.
Causes and Symptoms of Broken Collarbones
The clavicle is susceptible to fractures. It is a delicate bone that has little support in the center, often resulting in mid-bone fractures. Most broken collarbones are caused by a direct impact to the shoulder or outstretched arm in a fall or from trauma while playing a contact sport. Most clavicle fractures are in the middle of the bone, but they can occur at the connection to the ribcage, or scapula. Symptoms of a broken collarbone include:
- Pain when attempting to lift arm
- Shoulder sagging forward and downward
- Swelling and bruising over the collarbone
- Bone-on-bone sensation when raising the arm
- Bump or deformity on collarbone
Simple, hairline or singular clavicle fractures may be treated without surgery. Immobilizing the arm and shoulder with a sling and allowing the bone to heal is possible with some broken collarbones. For multiple or severe clavicle fractures, surgery may be required. Open reduction and internal fixation to repair and reset the bone, followed by recovery and rehabilitation, may be needed with complex broken collarbones.
Dr. Jonathan Glashow is a top-ranked orthopedic specialist offering treatment in NYC. He provides advanced options in clavicle fracture treatment, including same day diagnosis, consultation and surgery. Contact our team if you need urgent medical care for a broken collarbone. We can see patients after hours for emergency orthopedic care.
Frequently Asked Questions About Clavicle Fractures
How do I know if my collarbone is broken?
A broken clavicle typically produces immediate pain at the top of the shoulder or along the collarbone, a visible bump or deformity where the bone has shifted, swelling and bruising over the fracture site, and difficulty lifting or moving the arm on the affected side. You may also notice the shoulder drooping forward and downward compared to the opposite side. Because some non-displaced fractures can be subtle, Dr. Glashow recommends X-rays for any significant shoulder or collarbone injury to confirm whether a fracture is present and determine its severity.
Do all clavicle fractures need surgery?
No. Many clavicle fractures — particularly non-displaced or minimally displaced midshaft fractures — can be treated effectively with a sling for immobilization, pain management, and a structured rehabilitation program to restore shoulder range of motion and strength as the bone heals. Surgery is generally recommended when the fracture is significantly displaced or shortened, when the bone has broken into multiple fragments, when the fracture involves the joint surface at either end of the clavicle, or when there is tenting of the skin or risk of the bone piercing through. Dr. Glashow evaluates each fracture with X-rays and clinical examination to determine the approach that will provide the best long-term outcome.
What does clavicle fracture surgery involve?
The most common surgical approach is open reduction and internal fixation, in which Dr. Glashow realigns the fractured bone fragments and secures them with a metal plate and screws along the top or front of the clavicle. This restores the bone’s normal length, alignment, and contour — which is particularly important for maintaining proper shoulder mechanics and preventing long-term complications like malunion or chronic shoulder dysfunction. The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis at Midtown Surgery Center, and most patients go home the same day.
How long does it take to recover from a broken collarbone?
Non-surgical fractures typically require four to eight weeks of sling use before beginning physical therapy, with most patients returning to full activity within three to four months. Surgical cases often allow earlier motion — with gentle range-of-motion exercises beginning within the first one to two weeks — because the plate and screws provide immediate structural stability. Full return to contact sports or heavy overhead activity after surgery generally takes three to four months, depending on X-ray evidence of bone healing. Dr. Glashow coordinates rehabilitation closely with physical therapists to ensure each patient progresses safely.
Will there be a visible scar or bump after healing?
Some patients develop a permanent bump at the fracture site — this is normal callus formation where the bone has healed and is more common with non-surgical treatment. With surgical fixation, the bone typically heals in its original contour with less visible deformity, though there will be a thin surgical scar along the collarbone. The plate and screws are generally left in place permanently unless they cause irritation, in which case they can be removed through a straightforward outpatient procedure after the bone has fully healed.
Can a clavicle fracture affect my shoulder long-term?
Most clavicle fractures heal well with appropriate treatment, but potential long-term complications include malunion — where the bone heals in a shortened or angulated position that alters shoulder mechanics — nonunion in cases where the bone fails to heal altogether, post-traumatic arthritis at the acromioclavicular or sternoclavicular joint, and persistent shoulder weakness or stiffness if rehabilitation is not completed. These complications are significantly more common with displaced fractures that are treated conservatively rather than surgically, which is why Dr. Glashow carefully evaluates each fracture’s displacement, shortening, and fragment pattern before recommending a treatment approach.
