What would happen if I broke my collarbone?

[steephill]

Watching the tour de crash has just reminded me that although I have the 'Race' level of insurance with British Cycling (haven't yet properly read though the terms), I don't have the peace of mind I want regarding what would happen if it was me (not necessarily talking about a racing incident, but any crash). The pros obviously have this all covered and get the plate put in etc, but what about someone like me? Would I necessarily end up with a deformed collarbone through not having access to this treatment? What is the standard procedure? If I could get cover for this I would seriously consider it - peace of mind and all that!

If you are in the know I would appreciate the advice.

 

[ufkacbln]

Don't fret...

Mine is bent after coming off a bike on a downhill.

Don't even notice it!

 

[G-Zero]

I always thought of a broken collar bone as a painful, but simple fracture until one of my boys broke his collar bone in the school yard years ago and was kept in hospital due to a complication that I had never heard of.

The break was in such a place that one end of the broken bone swivelled and dropped towards the top of his lungs.

I've never been so complacent since.

 

[zacklaws]

The pros obviously have this all covered and get the plate put in etc, but what about someone like me? Would I necessarily end up with a deformed collarbone through not having access to this treatment?

Don't worry about it, they would just cut you open to gain access, unless both ends were poking out in the first place, it would then save them a job slashing you open, and they would just plate it up, push the bone back in and sew you up.

Then when you back to work and get your return to work interview you'll get asked that stupid question they always ask, "will it happen again". As if I know that I will never fall off again.

I just hate stupid comments.

 

[Dayvo]

I suffered a clean break after a 40 kph crash on day one of a three-month ride.

I was quickly taken to hospital where I was given valium before being taken to a larger hospital, as the doctor feared that one end of the broken bone would/could sever a vein/artery to the side of the throat area.

As it was, it wasn't that serious, and not operated on either, but I was just put in a sling and stayed in hospital for two nights.

I should really have been put in a brace to hold my shoulders back and stabilise them. Being in a sling, I was in a crouching position, and as a result I have a triangular shape collar bone which is an inch or so shorter than the other side.

I suffer no discomfort or lack of movement at all, and was able to complete a two-month tour four weeks after breaking the collar bone.

I was lucky, as several forumers on here have suffered far worse breaks than I did.

 

[brockers]

When I bust mine hitting a tree while proto-mountain-biking when I was thirteen, I had to put my arm in a sling for a few weeks. There is a tiny lump which only I was aware of after the bone knitted, but other than that everything looks fairly normal. I'm sure nothing's changed re slings and stuff.

 

[Mark_Robson]

I broke mine last year and I now have a deformed collar bone. its still tender but getting better day by day and the only real issue is that my shoulders are different shapes, which causes all of my collars to pull to the deformed side. It's fine with shirts but T shirts look a bit odd. It looks weird but at 45 I'm past caring about trivialities like that.

Oh and by the way. Plates are a last resort as they are dangerous in themselves. If you break your collar bone again with a plate in you can do some serious damage to arteries and other sensitive bits, due to sharp screws and splinters.

 

[Dan B]

I broke one and dislocated the other (at the sternum end, which I hadn't previously known was possible), so I'm lopsided on both sides. Makes no practical difference, though.

 

[gaz]

All i can say is it fracking hurts and at present mine is still swollen and healing, currently have a massive bump in mine.

 

[lilolee]

I can't swim doing the crawl any more, kind of go in circles.

 

[ufkacbln]

I can't swim doing the crawl any more, kind of go in circles.

Break the other one so they match - simples!

 

[Kestevan]

Bust mine many years ago playing rugby.

Several weeks in a sling, and a lot pf pain. But it's ok now.
Only lasting effect is that I cant put my shoulder blades flat. If I lie on the floor my left shoulder wont go flat, and I cant lie with my arms outstreched comfortably.

Cant't say this has ever been a major issue..... bu it does make doing some of the Kata difficult in Tang So Do.

 

[Cyclist33]

Mine's just healed, I was in a sling for eight weeks and then had four weeks of physio altho I jacked that in as I found that I was getting along ok. I don't know of anyone *not* developing a knobble at the break site as a result.

I'm cycling again.

Stu

 

[Philk]

Broke both of my collar bones, in both cases, I was given pain relief and a sling. They are very painfull when broken and you cant get a good nights sleep......
But thats the case with broken bones in general and ive broken most of them lol

 

[asterix]

Break the other one so they match - simples!

Congratulations on 6000!