Conservative therapy with the following components is used primarily for nondislocated lateral clavicle fracture:
Immobilization for seven days in a Gilchrist bandage (to immobilize or fix the shoulder joint).
Subsequent physiotherapy for six weeks
In patients with a mid-third clavicle fracture who received care on the first day of the event, use of the simple arm sling (internal arm rotation) on the first day was associated with significantly less pain than backpack bracing.Patients with the simple arm sling were instructed to flex and extend the affected elbow for 10 minutes three times daily. Backpack bandage patients were allowed to move their arms at any time. Fracture healing was complete after no more than 8 weeks. Radiographic measurements revealed similar shortening of the clavicle after application of the arm sling and backpack bandage, respectively (7.7 versus 9.0 mm).
