What can unilateral pain in the collarbone indicate? | Collarbone pain

What can unilateral pain in the collarbone indicate?

Unilateral pain usually indicates a unilateral injury. A shoulder joint dislocation (AC dislocation) typically leads to unilateral pain. This leads to a ligament rupture in the shoulder joint and to the so-called piano key phenomenon.

Other shoulder injuries, such as impingement syndrome or shoulder arthrosis, can also cause unilateral pain. A contusion or a broken collarbone also causes pain on the respective side. Incarcerations of vertebrae or ribs can also cause pain on only one side.

When does pain in the collarbone indicate a heart problem?

Pain in the collarbone can be the first sign of a heart attack. A heart attack is often indicated by a twinge in the chest and pain in the left shoulder up to the arm. The left shoulder belongs to the so-called “head zone” of the heart.

This refers to areas of skin where pain occurs when internal organs are diseased. However, not all pain in the collarbone should make one think of a heart attack. As a rule, a heart attack also typically causes other symptoms such as: shortness of breath, nausea, anxiety, palpitations etc.

Duration of collarbone pain

Collarbone fracture is an extremely common injury, 15% of all bone fractures are fractures of the clavicle! The reason for this lies in the anatomical fact that the collarbone lies directly under the skin without a large “protective cushion” and is therefore exposed to direct or indirect force, e.g. in bicycle falls, practically unprotected. In most cases, the collarbone breaks in the middle area, as this is where its diameter is smallest and the outer parts are not only thicker but also stabilized by strong ligamentous apparatuses.

Indications of a collarbone fracture as a cause of pain in the collarbone area are, in addition to a fall or accident (here, above all, indirect violence by falling on the outstretched arm), above all swelling and bruising over the collarbone. The patient also tends to hold the arm in a gentle position close to the body and finds it difficult to lift the arm. All other movements in the shoulder joint are also perceived as extremely painful and may produce a crunching sound known as a crepitus.

Often a step formation can be seen from the outside in the course of the bone under the skin. Since it is a bone injury, the diagnosis of a collarbone fracture is made by means of X-rays. Not only can the diagnosis be made, but also the specific type and location of the fracture can be assessed and, on this basis, initial treatment options can be drawn up. If it is a possible medial clavicle fracture, i.e. one that lies towards the breastbone, a CT scan may also be useful, since bone injuries can easily be overlooked on X-rays due to superimposition effects.