Has anyone flown with a broken collarbone?

[chiweenie]

We are due to fly to the UK from US ( 11 hour flight) on Wednesday. Daughter ( 11 years old) broke her collarbone on Saturday- waiting to go in to see the orthopedic doctor later today for advice. She is moving about with a sling on but obviously until it heals she will be limited in what she can do.
Once we get to the UK not planning on doing anything that active - visiting family etc.

Just trying to decide whether we postpone the trip till next summer (flights are too $$ to just rearrange for this summer) or just go and manage the discomfort. Has anyone travelled or had their child travel with this type of injury? Just trying to figure out of it is too much to expect her to manage the discomfort- of course she and we all want to go and see family we have not seen in 2.5 years but trying to know what is best to do.

Dh broke his collar bone and couldn't bear the slightest movements. I would imagine travelling would be very painful.

How has she been since Wednesday? what form does she seem in?

Thanks hugo and tabby. She broke it on Saturday, so less than 48 hours ago, she is up and about but things like dressing are tricky-flight is 50 hours from now.

I have no experience of a broken collar bone, however I just wanted to suggest that you make sure your travel insurance covers you for any medical costs if your daughter needs medical attention while you're away (e.g. if her condition changes, she needs a prescription for painkillers, etc). Most insurers require you to declare pre existing conditions in order to ensure cover (sometimes this requires an upgrade which is an additional cost).

I think it depends on her level of pain and mobility. My DD has had this injury twice. The first was much worse, she was in a lot of pain for several days, could only sleep sitting up, found it hard to get comfortable, needed help dressing, washing, eating etc. I think she would have been extremely uncomfortable in one position for 11 hours, plus navigating round airport would have been exhausting I think. Second time much less pain & more mobile & independent more quickly. Whatever you decide, I'd give very regular painkillers, ibuprofen and paracetamol, to pre-empt pain.

DH tried to go to work on the train with a broken collarbone, he got one stop before he got off and asked me to come bring him home.

I'd be more worried that she were knocked or you encountered turbulence and she needed immediate intervention of fracture was displaced.

Your insurance may refuse to cover her too.

I broke mine skiing about 4 years ago and flew home, only from Italy, two days later. It was fine, no issues at all and no more pain than just walking around.

I broke my collarbone and then flew a week later to Miami and then onto the Bahamas.
My parents had arranged a special trip to the Bahamas for their anniversary.
I think the flying was fine but I remember being glad that I didn't share a bed as that would have been agonising.

I have flown with
broken foot- both when it was in boot and when it wasn’t and medics kept saying it wasn’t broken - even long haul to Brazil and China . This went on for 26 weeks so loads of flights,
Broken elbow - arm in sling ..flew to PEI including the tiny wee plane from Nova Scotia plus multiple trips on easy jet to europe

as someone who used to fly 2-3 trips per month , flying with any known injury is the way to fly these days. You ask for assistance and then have the absolute privilege of being escorted through queues, not having to stand for ages in budget airline pre boarding queues , get onto plane first etc etc….I must admit there were time I was tempted to get my sling or boot out again and fake it for the privilege of being escorted.

but you need to tell the airline ahead. And you will need a fitness to fly. Airlines only stop you in first 24-48 hours when limb is still swelling.

US carriers intercontinental are crap. Truely awful. But they are ok with assistance provided you pre arrange. But they’ll still treat you and family like a piece of cattle. If you are flying with virgin or ba or ano non us carrier it’ll be better probably.

BOOK SEATS for all of you…make sure she sits where her shoulder is protected form anyone else knocking it..ideally so shoulder is next to a window. Take a soft shawl or padded coat to use to cushion and support arm. She’ll be fine

Very unlikely…people fly with broken bones all the time fgs

If she's got a decent sling / support it'll be fine, not the crappy pink sponge ones.

Agree with getting a proper sturdy sling. Make sure pain management is in place.

A broken arm or leg is very different to a broken collarbone, which cannot be properly supported by a cast or sling. Fgs

Don't mess with the type of sling without consulting her doctor. Often it is important to have the elbow unsupported and lower than the wrist to aid proper healing/recovery. Had this when I broke mine, the consultant was cross the first sling was the wrong type as it can affect the way the injury heals, he wanted the weight of the elbow to provide some mild traction.

Did she break it by falling on an outstretched arm, or from a direct impact to the collarbone.

If it was a direct impact then there is high chance of associated rib fractures (1st and 2nd rib) and this carriers a high risk of punctured lung and associated problems, which would be a very bad thing to fly with.

So long as you are happy that this is not a the case with your DD, then I'd say she'd be fine flying. Look at the average plane flying back during the ski season and loads of passengers will be carrying similar injuries and manage just fine.

Thanks for each and every bit of input and helpful suggestions.Just got back from the ortho doc who managed to get us in at 2 pm today and he said it is safe to fly. Clean break and in a position where it should start healing quickly so only the first half of the hiliday may be affected which is encouraging. In a week to 10 days the sling will be off so we just need to be careful to get her on the flight first so she does not get bumbed. I really was ready to abandon the holiday which would have been a hugs shame.

Yes. I broke my collarbone in New York on the Friday night. My parents picked me up at Heathrow on the Monday morning.

I was in pain but the flight didn’t affect it particularly. Being driven back to the Midlands in a Mini was probably worse.

It was 30 years ago. The main thing I remember was being unable to sleep properly in bed due to the pain and trauma.

I had one visit with a woo craneologist (?) who made it all better, amazingly. No more pain after that.

Oh wow Swiss Cheese so you were flying within 24 hours of the break. This is an 11 hour flight then train across london up north which i am hoping will be better than car...ortho was very gung ho and said not to worry at all- it will heal fast as she is a child. Relieved but still dreading this journey. Going back she should be far more healed by then.glad we do not have to abandon the holiday...

@chiweenie I broke my collarbone in my early 20s and flew long haul with the sling a few days later. I don't remember being in any pain at all on the flight but did get upgraded - so there could even be a little bright side!

As a pp said, pain management.

I hope you all have a great time!