Duration
The duration of therapy for a broken collarbone depends on several different factors. Firstly, there is a clear difference in the duration of therapy for children and adults. Children are almost always treated conservatively with a backpack bandage, which must be worn for 10 – 14 days.
The conservative treatment with the help of a backpack bandage in adults takes about 3 – 4 weeks. However, the final wearing period is precisely determined on the basis of an X-ray follow-up. On the basis of this x-ray image during the course of therapy, it is possible to precisely control and assess the healing of the fracture.If the fracture heals without complications under this therapy, the affected arm should be able to bear weight again after 6 – 8 weeks.
As a complication of conservative treatment, however, false joints, so-called pseudarthroses, can develop. These can lead to persistent pain in the area of the fracture and, due to increased formation of bone calcium, vascular and nerve tracts can become constricted, resulting in sensory and circulatory disorders. If these complications occur, the treatment of a broken collarbone can be prolonged considerably and surgical correction may become necessary.
If the need for surgical correction is identified, the affected arm should not be loaded for 6 – 8 weeks after the operation. If the x-ray follow-up shows that the fracture has healed well and no complications have occurred, the material inserted for correction and fixation can be removed in another operation. Nails can be removed approximately after 8 – 12 months and plates after 18 – 24 months.
