Clavicle (collar bone) Fracture < 12 years

1 This document was last reviewed on 16 December 2015 The Children s Hospital at Westmead page 1 of 2 Clavicle ( collar bone ) Fracture < 12 years What has happened to my child? Your child has broken their Clavicle ( collar bone ). The Fracture usually happens in the middle of the bone (Figure 1). Figure 1: Clavicle Fracture What treatment does my child need? These fractures generally heal well with rest and time. An arm sling should be worn for comfort for three to four weeks (Figure 2). Simple pain medication such as Paracetamol or Ibuprofen should be given regularly until your child is comfortable.

2 Never exceed the recommended dose. Encourage your child to move the elbow, hand, and fingers. Gentle shoulder movement can begin when the sling in removed. When should my child see the GP? Please see your GP within 1 week for your child to be reassessed to make sure pain is controlled and the sling is well-fitting. No further X-rays are required. Return to your GP if: There is pain at the site of the Fracture after 6 weeks. There is tingling or numbness in the arm or hand. How long will the Fracture take to heal? Healing takes three to four weeks depending on the age of your child.

3 Your child may return to sports such as swimming as soon as comfortable, but contact sports, as well as activities such as trampolining and skateboarding should be avoided for 6 weeks after injury. In young children, a painless, lump at the Fracture site is quite normal and may take about a year to disappear. In older children a small bump may remain indefinitely. Figure 2: Sling This document was last reviewed on 16 December 2015 The Children s Hospital at Westmead page 2 of 2 Dear Doctor, Many thanks for reviewing this child who was diagnosed with a middle-third Clavicle Fracture .

4 This type of Fracture does not require Orthopaedic specialist input as it generally heals without complication. The patient has been placed in an arm sling for analgesia. The child should present to you within one week after injury. Could you please check that the sling is well-fitting, pain is controlled and there is no paraesthesia or weakness in the arm. A repeat X-ray is not required. The sling needs to be worn for three to four weeks by which time the Fracture should have healed and the child will be pain free without tenderness over the Fracture site.

5 They can return to sports 6 weeks after the initial injury. Please warn the family that a painless lump at the Fracture site is normal and can take a year to disappear. In older children this may remain indefinitely. If there are ongoing concerns please contact the Orthopaedic registrar/SRMO on-call at The Children s Hospital at Westmead via switch on 98450000 to discuss further management and to expedite review if required. Please do not routinely instruct the family to attend the Emergency Department unless there are acute/time critical concerns. If you would like to check the initial X-ray report please call The Children s Hospital Radiology department on 9845 2944 between 0900 to 1700 Monday to Friday.

6 Yours Sincerely, Emergency Department The Children s Hospital at Westmead Attach Patient ID label/MRN