Synonyms
Clavicle, acromioclavicular joint, acromion, sternoclavicular joint, ACG, clavicle fracture, clavicula fracture, shoulder girdle Medical: Clavicle
- Humeral head (humerus)
- Shoulder height (Acromion)
- Shoulder corner joint
- Collarbone (Clavicle)
- Coracoid
- Shoulder joint (glenohumeral joint)
Function
The collarbone has an important function in the context of shoulder joint mobility. Especially when lifting the arm sideways beyond the horizontal, the clavicle with its two joints must be moved along. The acromioclavicular joint belongs to the shoulder girdle and is therefore part of the shoulder joint. Although the sternoclavicular joint is far away from the shoulder joint at the sternum, it also plays a decisive role in shoulder joint mobility.
Diseases and pain in the collarbone
The most common accidental disease of the clavicle is clavicula fracture (15% of all bone fractures). In most cases, the outer third of the clavicle is affected. Due to its superficial course directly under the skin, it is usually a direct violent impact that leads to a clavicle fracture.
Another common injury is acromioclavicular joint fracture (ACG fracture). In this case, the ligaments of the acromioclavicular joint tear as a result of an accident. The muscle pulls the outer end of the clavicle upwards and a step is formed under the skin between the end of the clavicle and shoulder height (acromion).
These steps can be pressed and a typical piano key phenomenon can be triggered, which proves that the ligaments are completely torn apart. A rupture of the sternoclavicular joint (Sterno-Clavicula joint) is rather rare and is almost always treated conservatively. The clavicle fracture is one of the most common bone fractures.
It is usually the result of a fall, e.g. while cycling or inline skating. Basically, there are two different causes for a collarbone fracture. This is either a direct impact trauma when falling on the shoulder or, much more frequently, an indirect injury to the clavicle, e.g. by falling on the outstretched arm.
The most typical symptom of a bone fracture is severe pain, which occurs with every movement of the arm or chest. Other symptoms may include swelling and bruising over the fracture, as well as possibly palpable step formation in the course of the bone. Diagnosis is usually based on an x-ray image from several directions in addition to a detailed questioning about the cause of the injury and an examination by the physician.
If there is no reason for surgical treatment, the therapy is carried out with a so-called rucksack bandage. This exerts as much traction as possible on the collarbone and thus stabilizes the edges of the fracture against each other. It is usually worn for at least 6 weeks.
Surgery may become necessary if, for example, there is an open fracture, the edges of the fracture are more than 2 cm apart, or if there are vascular or nerve injuries as well as serial rib fractures in addition to the collarbone fracture. Apart from fractures of the bone, pain in the clavicle is most often caused by the joints. These are, on the one hand, the clavicle-breastbone joint and, on the other hand, the acromioclavicular joint, which connects the clavicle with the scapula.
If the pain was preceded by a fall or accident, injuries to the joint ligaments are very likely to be the cause. These are usually caused by pain from pressure and movement as well as swelling directly above the affected joint. The therapy depends on the severity of the injuries and any shifting of the collarbone.
In the case of injuries to the clavicle-breastbone joint, without displacement of the bone, symptomatic treatment with painkillers and anti-inflammatory substances is usually sufficient, since the joint is sufficiently stabilized by the surrounding structures. Depending on the severity of the injury, therapeutic measures for acromioclavicular joint injuries range from therapy with anti-inflammatory drugs and, if necessary, application of a shoulder arm bandage for a few days to relieve the pain, to surgical intervention. and acromioclavicular joint instability Another cause of pain in the joints can be arthrosis, i.e. wear and tear of the joint cartilage, and inflammation.These can be treated with anti-inflammatory agents, ointment bandages or even the injection of narcotics into the joint.
Age-related wear and tear of the acromioclavicular joint can lead to arthrosis with spur formation. This spur can restrict the mobility of the shoulder joint and lead to so-called impingement symptoms (shoulder bottleneck syndrome). The collarbone is firmly anchored in the shoulder girdle via its joint connections to the sternum and shoulder.
If it is displaced, it can therefore be assumed that there is an injury in one of these joints and that ligament structures are damaged. If the displacement is not at the ends but along the course of the bone, a fracture is usually present. Depending on the extent of the displacement, surgery may be necessary to adjust the direction of the bone. If the extent of the injury is smaller, however, immobilisation and alignment of the bone with the aid of a bandage is usually sufficient.
