Collarbone fractures

A broken or ‘fractured’ collarbone is a common injury. The collarbone, also known as the clavicle, connects the shoulder to the collarbone. A collarbone fracture usually occurs in the middle of the bone.

Sometimes, these fractures have a bend, but they generally heal well and the bones will reset themselves into a straight position with rest and time.

Signs and symptoms

The signs and symptoms of a broken collarbone include:

• Pain that increases when moving the shoulder.
• Swelling, tenderness or bruising.
• Skin over the break might look like a tent when gently pinched.
• A bump on or near the shoulder.
• A grinding or crackling sound when moving the shoulder.
• Stiffness or not being able to move the shoulder.

Treatment

Collarbone fractures cannot be placed into a plaster cast, so a sling is commonly used to limit movement of the arm and shoulder as much as possible.

The collarbone will be sore if there is movement in the arm or shoulder, so pain relief will be important (see below) until the bone starts to heal.

A fractured collarbone generally takes three to four weeks to fully heal, depending on your child’s age.

Care at home

• Pain relief – Your child may be in pain for the first few days. Give them regular doses of pain-relieving medications such as paracetamol and ibuprofen. Follow the instructions on the packaging for how much and how often to give the medication. Reduce the number of doses throughout the day as the pain settles.
• Your child should try to not move their shoulder until the sling is removed, but encourage them to move their fingers, wrist and elbow.
• Once your child is no longer in pain, they can return to normal activities.
• Contact sports, such as netball and football, should be avoided for 10 weeks after the sling is removed to reduce the chance of re-breaking the bone.
• A lump may develop on the bone where the break occurred. This is normal and can take up to a year to flatten back to normal. In some cases, a small lump may remain, but this will not affect your child’s use of their arm.

Does my child need a follow up appointment?

Usually no follow-up appointment and/or X-rays are required. Major or complex fractures may need to be seen in a fracture clinic in seven to 10 days.

When to seek help

See your GP if the treatment is not working as expected.

Return to your nearest emergency department if your child has any of the following:

• Their pain gets worse despite pain-relief medicine
• The site of the break becomes more swollen, is tingling (‘pins and needles’) or your child feels any unusual sensation
• you are concerned for any reason.

For non-urgent medical advice, call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) and speak to a registered nurse.

In an emergency, call Triple Zero (000) and ask for an ambulance.

Developed by the Emergency and Orthopaedics departments, Queensland Children’s Hospital. We acknowledge the input of consumers and carers.

Resource ID: FS118. Reviewed: November 2023.

Disclaimer: This information has been produced by healthcare professionals as a guideline only and is intended to support, not replace, discussion with your child’s doctor or healthcare professionals. Information is updated regularly, so please check you are referring to the most recent version. Seek medical advice, as appropriate, for concerns regarding your child’s health.