Broken Clavicle (collar bone)

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kx315
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Re: Broken Clavicle (collar bone)

Postby kx315 » Fri Jun 21, 2013 11:31 am

LugNut wrote:
kx315 wrote:
kx315 wrote:Broke my left one 13 years ago (2 day before my first child was born.....boy was I popular :roll:) going over the bars at 100km on my motor bike. Hurts like hell at the time (up there with breaking ribs) as its hard to get comfortable especially sleeping at night.

I was back on the bike in 4 weeks, generally the newly fused part of the bone is actually stronger than the original.
Well I put the kiss of death on myself posting in this thread :lol: ....... courtesy of a piece of unseen debris on a cycle path near home I am now nursing my second broken collar bone in 13 years :evil:
Argh, sorry to hear mate. At least you might get a bit of special attention this time around.
lol you would think so hey......wife not impressed!! This is not helping with the justification for the purchase of my TCR Advanced 0 either dam it lol
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Saturnstarzz
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Re: Broken Clavicle (collar bone)

Postby Saturnstarzz » Sun Jun 23, 2013 5:36 pm

trailgumby wrote:So I take it the ends of the break are not in contact with each other?

I broke mine a year and a half ago and no surgery was required. Back on the trainer at 6 weeks, on the bike about 9 weeks later, no off-road until 12 weeks and nothing remotely technical off-road until 16. Sounds like you're well under half my age so your time frames will be shorter but be guided by your doctor.

I have titanium in my hand courtesy of a bike-hating driver three-and-a-bit years ago, seven pins and a plate. My experience has been that it doesn't impact daily life too much, but there is still an impact. Change in weather, people with strong handshakes both cause noticeable discomfort. Planning to get the metalwork out shortly.

Ask about how easy it is to remove if necessary before making the call.
The only Ti I have is in my right wrist from being hit by a truck a fews ago.
Have a bump and can here my plate click when I move my hand.
Hate winter and how it ache's all the time in the cold.
I waited 6 weeks for surgery as they couldn't decide if it needed a plate or not.
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marinmomma
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Re: Broken Clavicle (collar bone)

Postby marinmomma » Sun Sep 01, 2013 9:35 am

I have joined the ranks thanks to getting taken out in a crit race crash yesterday..

Broken mine in 2 places plus a fractured radius and a fracture of T1...
Thanks for the heads up re the frozen shoulder a Physio friend has given me a few pointers to keep my fingers and wrist moving....already have had some problems with this shoulder...
Lisa

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Re: Broken Clavicle (collar bone)

Postby briztoon » Sun Sep 01, 2013 10:36 am

Ahh marinmomma that sucks. I feel for you.

Most people here know my story. I was admitted to the PA hospital here in Brisbane. The orthopaedic surgeons and a couple of my doctors at the PA also work at Greenslopes Private Hospital, where I work. I also have private health cover. While I was in Emergency and ICU my family had spoken to the doctors and were adamant that as soon as I was stable enough that I should be transferred to Greenslopes. My family were told this was not a good idea as Greenslopes being a private hospital does not have the same services as the PA. I will say that ICU at the PA is far nicer than ICU at Greenslopes.

I was also counselled against having surgery on my collar bone. My break looks nasty on the X-ray. It's broken in to three, with the two main pieces crossing over about a centimetre, and a third smaller piece at an 80 degree angle between the two main pieces. When I do get my hospital records, I'll post an image of my X-ray if possible. The surgeons explained that surgery does open the risk to infection and the danger of nerve and/or artery damage. Like others here, they said surgery was usually only recommended to sportsmen where they need to get back on the field or bike.

I spent a lot of time looking at my break and wondering how I was to recover without surgery and trying to understand how could they not recommend surgery. I will say the surgeons and doctors were very poor at explaining everything, from the break itself, to how it will heal, the time frame, why they didn't recommend surgery, just everything. This caused me quite a bit of mental anguish. I did have a nurse in ICU explain as much as he could which eased my mind some what.

I did release myself from hospital early, as I wasn't comfortable in my shared hospital room. One of the other patients was a junkie in with a broken leg and ribs. He was going through withdrawals to go with his pain.

It wasn't until I saw my GP on the Wednesday after I released myself, that I had some one clearly explain everything to me. My collar bone break was some what complicated by the nine broken ribs on the same side, and to be honest I've felt very little pain from the collar bone due to focusing on the pain from the ribs and the breathing problems I've had associated with the rib breaks.

In hindsight, if I had the chance, I would have had myself transferred to Greenslopes once they were ready to move me to the wards. I would probably have also asked for a second opinion from one of the orthopaedic surgeons who work full time at Greenslopes. It still niggles in the back of my mimd, should I have had surgery.
Last edited by briztoon on Sun Sep 01, 2013 6:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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foo on patrol
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Re: Broken Clavicle (collar bone)

Postby foo on patrol » Sun Sep 01, 2013 5:36 pm

marinmomma wrote:I have joined the ranks thanks to getting taken out in a crit race crash yesterday..

Broken mine in 2 places plus a fractured radius and a fracture of T1...
Thanks for the heads up re the frozen shoulder a Physio friend has given me a few pointers to keep my fingers and wrist moving....already have had some problems with this shoulder...
:(

Foo
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Ken Ho
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Re: Broken Clavicle (collar bone)

Postby Ken Ho » Wed Sep 04, 2013 8:20 pm

I had mine plated, back on a trainer the same week, riding paths on MTB within a week.
Had it out a week ago, rde 10 km on the cruiser an our after getting out of day surgery and did 40km in the company of my surgeon after a few days.
My ortho races A Grade, so he gets it.
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LugNut
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Re: Broken Clavicle (collar bone)

Postby LugNut » Wed Sep 04, 2013 8:36 pm

Whoa, you're braver than I.

Wishing Saturn and Briztoon speedy recoveries.

An update on mine (OP) exactly 6 months on, and all is perfectly well. I'm not sure whether I would have the surgery or not if I had my time again, it's an injury that seems to heal quite well on its own judging by the experiences of others. Nevertheless, my scar is healing nicely, I have no limited movement, no more pain on longer rides, although I find that arm does get tired-sore before the other but I'll put that down to me not being vigilant with my physio weight exercises. It seems that the Titanium bolt is going to stay in me for life, I was under the impression that it was going to come out again but apparently not.
I met a lady the other day who had recently broken her collarbone, I told her that I had also broken mine and had the surgery. She asked to see the scar so I showed her and her partner - she looked horrified and said 'oh god it's massive!' and he said 'Gee, I hope you don't have to get that!'. They quickly realised that they were being a little insensitive and assured me that it would fade with time :lol:

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Re: Broken Clavicle (collar bone)

Postby danny the boy » Tue Sep 24, 2013 8:14 am

Broke mine yesterday. Was on my MTB at a popular spot for trails in Vic, I'd like to say I was fanging it on a downhill run and came off but for some reason I managed to get down those one's no problem. Was on one of the easier XC sections and was coming along a slight downhill bit which has small log across it, looked fairly straight fwd, I got over that but what I couldn't see was a puddle on the other side of it and a surrounding area of mushy grass and mud. My front wheel landed and stopped dead sending me over the bars onto my shoulder. Having broken both before at different times playing football, I knew straight away what I'd done. Sat on a log for 15-20 mins till the worst of the pain had died down, nobody was around so made about a 1k walk back to a fire trail. Rode back along the fire trail until I reached a hill and pushed my bike the rest of the way to my car. Got all my gear off and bike in the car no probs so was thinking it might be ok, maybe just a small fracture, so drove home had a shower then went to the hospital for x-rays. The previous 2 times the bone was still connected, this time It's broken completely and they have overlapped. Like the others have said they gave me the option of surgery but the surgeon was still on duty and spoke to me and didn't recommend it due to other complications it can cause in that area but it was my choice. I go back in a week to get x-rayed again and make a decision on surgery if the bones haven't come back together.

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Re: Broken Clavicle (collar bone)

Postby Ken Ho » Tue Sep 24, 2013 8:57 pm

Danny, the attitudes to plating clavicles have changed a Lott in recent years, but a lot of orthos are still reluctant.
Don't be scared to get a second opinion form an upper limb specialist, or an ortho that cycles.
The guy who was on when I busted mine didn't want to fix it, but the cycling ortho came straight to see me when he saw my X-rays at their review meeting.
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Re: Broken Clavicle (collar bone)

Postby Abby » Mon Dec 09, 2013 2:29 am

Second collarbone break - three years after the first one. Crit racing crash on Wednesday evening at Nundah...

Short story - taken to the RBH (public) in Brisbane via ambulance. Felt very well looked after. X-rays and CT scans done. Was a clean break, but due to it being on the outside (distal?) of the shoulder, the ortho recommended surgery as he doesn't think it will heal properly otherwise. Booked in this Thursday to get plated up... The injury is nowhere near as bad as last time based on pain levels and relative mobility of the arm/shoulder. A hoping that means recovery will be much faster as well... Am getting a 2nd opinion from the private doc that treated me the first time, plus making a 'back-up' booking with him in case I cop public system delays.

Previous break was the same shoulder, but was result of a bike vs car (I was on the losing side...). That one though was more of a 'crushed' collarbone. Treated at Greenslopes Hospital (Private). Plate (with 9 screws!), plus a couple of screws in the head of the humorus as well. Long recovery (months), and plate was taken out after 6 months.
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marinmomma
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Re: Broken Clavicle (collar bone)

Postby marinmomma » Tue Dec 10, 2013 9:09 am

Bugger to read the Abby, I was watching your race last week, that's a crash each week of the Twilight series, hope that we don't have three in a row.
What's with people not hold their line through the eeses???

Good luck with your recovery.
Lisa

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Re: Broken Clavicle (collar bone)

Postby Abby » Tue Dec 10, 2013 4:52 pm

Cheers marinmomma. I actually drifted back in the first half of the last lap to stay out of everyone's way, as I knew I wouldn't be going for the final sprint. So much for doing the right thing! Rider in front of me got his front wheel taken out when someone dramatically shifted line, and I had nowhere to go... *sigh*

Just waiting now for Thursday mornning, and crossing fingers the surgery doesn't get delayed. Second opinion was consistent with the first, and my private doc has a very high opinion of the public surgeon allocated to me, so that's set my mind at ease considerably...

Looking forward to getting this surgery over & done with, so 'proper' healing can begin...!! :)
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marinmomma
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Re: Broken Clavicle (collar bone)

Postby marinmomma » Tue Dec 10, 2013 5:41 pm

Abby wrote:Cheers marinmomma. I actually drifted back in the first half of the last lap to stay out of everyone's way, as I knew I wouldn't be going for the final sprint. So much for doing the right thing! Rider in front of me got his front wheel taken out when someone dramatically shifted line, and I had nowhere to go... *sigh*

Just waiting now for Thursday mornning, and crossing fingers the surgery doesn't get delayed. Second opinion was consistent with the first, and my private doc has a very high opinion of the public surgeon allocated to me, so that's set my mind at ease considerably...

Looking forward to getting this surgery over & done with, so 'proper' healing can begin...!! :)

Yeah I heard that the person who caused the crash was way back in the pack and was barging through not holding their line.

Sounds a bit like the cause of my crash....
Great news on the doctor front and for your surgery to go ahead as scheduled on Thursday, from all accounts if you can have bone plated then your recovery will be quicker!
My fractures were a bit complicated and took 9 weeks to heal :shock:
Lisa

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Re: Broken Clavicle (collar bone)

Postby stevecassidy » Tue Mar 10, 2015 1:47 pm

Just reviving this old thread to record my crash this weekend at Heffron in Waratahs C Grade which has left me with a broken left clavicle.

The crash was pretty much unavoidable, someone went down in front and to the left of me as we turned right and I had no time to avoid him or take any kind of evasive action. I flew off the bike, landed on my left shoulder, bounced onto my head - helmet did its job - and came to rest on my back. I was looked after by the medic, checked out and patched up and bundled into the ambulance. After a bit of running around different hospitals - Heffron is a long way from home - I'm now waiting for surgery next week to install a plate and set things straight. Can't operate before then because there is a nasty scrape on the back of my shoulder so the risk of infection is too high.

I think in my case the break is on the outside of the bone - close to the shoulder - and has a large displacement, so an op is pretty much required.

Currently not in too much pain as long as I don't move the shoulder. Getting used to doing things with one and a bit hands. Not looking forward to the enforced break from riding.

Steve
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Re: Broken Clavicle (collar bone)

Postby Man Friday » Sun Jun 07, 2015 1:08 pm

This has been a good thread to read. I broke my colar bone riding home from work. You know how they say not to drive when you're tired, well it's the same for riding your bike. Ì have now got the sling off but my shoulder is still sore and I can't lift anything.
Reading this thread has help me understand that it may take some time to heal.
It's amazing how much a small fall disrupt your life.

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Re: Broken Clavicle (collar bone)

Postby ft_critical » Sun Jun 07, 2015 10:11 pm

stevecassidy wrote: I think in my case the break is on the outside of the bone - close to the shoulder - and has a large displacement, so an op is pretty much required.
Hi Steve,

This is the same as mine. I have a large metal alien across my shoulder. Do confirm whether you will ever need to take the plate out.

FWIW the danger is the compensatory adjustments you make for your shoulder when you start riding again.

Good luck,

FT

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Re: Broken Clavicle (collar bone)

Postby stevecassidy » Tue Jun 09, 2015 9:38 am

Thanks FT, recovering well now, plate in the shoulder and getting some fitness back. Surgeon and Physio say that it should come out as it is likely to cause more damage if I ever break that shoulder again.

Steve
Where's your next race? cabici.net lists bike races in Sydney

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Re: Broken Clavicle (collar bone)

Postby moosterbounce » Tue Jun 09, 2015 5:30 pm

According to my surgeon (plate running from shoulder down arm), metal doesn't bend but bone does. So if you come off again, the area with the plate will tend not to break, but as there is no bend here and some in the bone at either end, the chance of it breaking are higher as a flexie bit will try to flex and a non-flexie will prevent it. At least you will know exactly where it will break so might save on those pesky X-ray costs :)

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Re: Broken Clavicle (collar bone)

Postby shaky » Tue Jun 09, 2015 6:48 pm

Not bike related, and definitely not recent, but I started the breaks to mine as a 12 year old at sport. First it was fractured in a couple of places (greenstick fractures) due to an errant boot at soccer in a slide tackle, a post match visit to the docs and the shoulder was set with a bandage that ran under both armpits across back and wrapped around the affected left shoulder. About a week later while walking out of my house I slipped on a wet timber step and put my hand out to break my fall. Wasn't the only thing I broke. Can still remember the 'sound' it made. Was left to knit back together in a sling for what seemed like an eternity (probably more like 8-10 weeks). And I still have the bumps to prove it.

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Re: Broken Clavicle (collar bone)

Postby CKinnard » Tue Jun 09, 2015 7:25 pm

When a surgeon tells you he thinks it better not to remove the plate from a fractured clavicle, ask him whether it increases or decreases the risk of a brachial plexus lesion when you next fall off your bike.

And just to prove a point about the lack of integrative medicine being practised today, ask your surgeon which diet and nutritional supplements he recommends to enhance the chance of and speed of bone reunion.

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Re: Broken Clavicle (collar bone)

Postby Pedaling » Thu Jun 18, 2015 12:22 pm

Hi all,
Thanks for all of the great advise and also sharing your stories.
I was involved in a Crit accident at Heffron on Saturday, and managed to snap my left clavicle, my right wrist and thumb.
just out of hospital today. it's difficult typing like this so i'll share more when i can.
Cheers,

Darrin.
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Re: Broken Clavicle (collar bone)

Postby stevecassidy » Thu Jun 18, 2015 4:49 pm

Hi Darrin,
commiserations and welcome to the Heffron club! Hope your recovery goes smoothly.

Steve
Where's your next race? cabici.net lists bike races in Sydney

Pedaling
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Re: Broken Clavicle (collar bone)

Postby Pedaling » Thu Jun 18, 2015 6:09 pm

Thanks Steve,
Without the use of both left and right arms, I'm thinking of how to structure, how and when to start training again.
seems like i need to get the old bike in the trainer sometime next week.
How did you begin your recovery, and start back on the bike?
i have had an operation to my left clavicle on Monday afternoon, but my right wrist and thumb are in plaster for 6 weeks apparently.

thanks again Steve, appreciate it.
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Re: Broken Clavicle (collar bone)

Postby stevecassidy » Thu Jun 18, 2015 8:26 pm

Hi Darrin,
it was about six weeks before I managed to get back on the bike again and that was on the trainer. My recovery was interrupted by an international trip two weeks after my op which knocked me back a bit. Once I was back on the trainer I started feeling a lot better. I got the all clear from the physio after about 8 weeks and started a few low intensity rides.

I did my first race last weekend, 13 weeks after the crash. I probably could have gone back earlier but either the rain or the venue (Heffron again) put me off.

Your other injuries sound like they may slow you down so don't push it too hard, but as soon as you can tolerate sitting on the trainer it feels good to get moving again.

Steve
Where's your next race? cabici.net lists bike races in Sydney

Pedaling
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Re: Broken Clavicle (collar bone)

Postby Pedaling » Fri Jun 19, 2015 5:34 am

Hey Steve,
Congratulations for pinning a number on again so soon.
That would take a hell of a lot of mental toughness mate. Respect.
that magical number of 6 weeks seems to be fairly consistent with similar injuries.
I need to go and see a physio, although I'm interested to know at what stage of your recovery did you start to consult a Physio, and would you suggest I do the same?
So it seems the trick is to keep myself busy, and relative fitness and weight, (not happy as I had some decent form after the State Masters Champs) and keep from preventing further injury like frozen shoulder.
Thanks Steve,
"Life is just a ride" Bill Hicks
2012 C59 Colnago
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