Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

dd1 has snapped her collar bone attempting to fly! Looking for advice.

29 replies

HighHeidYin · 06/12/2011 23:10

dd1, who is 18, 'fell' off a wall at the weekend and has broken her collarbone.

(Don't ask how she did it - but it gave the hospital staff much to grin about Blush )

Took her for a follow up appointment today and we saw the x-ray which was horrendous. The bone has literally snapped in two - one piece is sitting underneath the other and the two pieces overlap.

The doctor said that it might knit together, although if it does she will always have a bump where the top bone is sticking out, and because the bones are now overlapping, the knitted bone will be shorter than it was so her right shoulder will be a different shape to her left. She has been given a sling and told not to use her arm for 6 weeks.

She is to go back in 2 weeks for another x-ray and if the bone has not started to knit together she will need an op for it to be pinned.

But to my uneducated eye it looked like the two bones were barely touching, and is it even possible that they will knit together when they are overlapping instead of meeting end to end? Wouldn't it be better for them to operate now so that she doesn't have the lump of bone sticking out and would mean that both shoulders would be the same shape again? She can feel the lump of bone quite prominantly although the doctor said it doesn't look obvious. She is scared that the end bit of bone will pop right through her skin (yikes).

Any advice would be appreciated. Smile

OP posts:
Original poster
HighHeidYin · 06/12/2011 23:12

Sorry, prominEnt... Blush

OP posts:
tiredteddy · 06/12/2011 23:22

No advice really but I agree with you OP that I cannot imagine how it is meant to knit together if the bones are overlaying and not end to end.
Go back and ask for second opinion?
Sorry for your DD x

Original poster
HighHeidYin · 06/12/2011 23:30

Thanks tiredteddy. Yes, I think we will have to. If she feels the bone is protruding more tomorrow I will take her back to A & E.

It was self-inflicted, but I do feel sorry for her now that I've actually seen the damage!

OP posts:
Original poster
HighHeidYin · 07/12/2011 09:33

Ok, have looked at a few sites which say that the ends of the bones need to be aligned for it to heal properly (which makes sense). Otherwise an operation is required to realign the pieces.

So why has she been told to wait for 2 weeks before it is even looked at again? Are there any ortho experts out there?

OP posts:
Catsmamma · 07/12/2011 09:36

I did my collar bone as a teen and from my Xray it look like my arm would fall off as the arm end of the bone was wafting

Mine healed, was in a sling for about6 weeks I think....long time ago.

I also had a huge knot of bone for ages, but that fades as it heals over months. My right collarbone is still shorter than the left though.

Original poster
HighHeidYin · 07/12/2011 09:40

Thanks catsmamma. That's put my mind at rest. Incredible that breaks of that kind can heal on their own, very comforting to know they can.

I guess surgery is a last resort and they are giving it a chance to heal on its own. Will calm down now!

OP posts:
JaneBirkin · 07/12/2011 09:55

Sorry, knowing nothing about this it doesn't sound right. I'd be asking for a second opinion and if they won't operate to align the bones, I'd be going private.

That's just me being fussy though! Poor dd. Daft thing!

Original poster
HighHeidYin · 07/12/2011 10:05

Do you think I should phone the department we were at yest?
Don't want to cause a fuss and I feel a bit guilty that I am doubting them when they deal with this all the time and I have zero experience of it.

Maybe it would help just to put my mind at rest. She is saying today that the area of skin where the bone protrudes is hurting more today. The bone seems to be moving and rubbing. Perhaps that is to be expected. I just don't know.

OP posts:
rabbitstew · 07/12/2011 10:12

I was put in a figure of eight bandage to pull my collar bone back into the right position to maximise the chance of it healing neatly and without being too foreshortened. It did seem to limit the ability of my lymph nodes to drain (ie it made my arms and hands swell up a bit, given that I had bandages pulled tight under my armpits...), but the broken shoulder is not noticeably shorter now than the other one (albeit it is, technically, a tiny bit shorter if you get a tape measure out!). Also, I don't think anyone can see the bump any more - you can just feel it if you run your finger along the top of my shoulder. It did make lying on that side to sleep pretty stiff and painful for many years afterwards, though - not a problem any more. I guess it partly depends where the collar bone is broken???

Original poster
HighHeidYin · 07/12/2011 10:25

Thanks rabbitstew. She just has a standard sling so nothing to really pull it back into place. The bone is broken much nearer to her neck than to her shoulder.

Good to know it can heal without causing long term disfigurement as you say.

Maybe I'm being pfbish about this, even if she is 18!

OP posts:
JaneBirkin · 07/12/2011 10:30

You only get one go at getting this right and I too am surprised at what they are doing.

I think you're well within your rights (and being polite/sensible, not a nuisance) to go in or ring up and say, look, I don't understand why you are taking this approach - could you talk me through it one more time please, dd is in pain, and I'm concerned it won't heal properly if the bones aren't aligned.'

There's no harm in asking. You're not being PFB. If there is a risk of permanent damage then please don't wait two weeks before going back/feeling that you get why they are waiting.

They might be able to explain better, at least.

Original poster
HighHeidYin · 07/12/2011 10:36

Thanks so much. Am going to phone now.

OP posts:
saintlyjimjams · 07/12/2011 10:38

I had a very bad break aged 9 (a supracondylar fracture), spent a week in hospital with it. The x-ray just looked a mess, tbh. They put me under thinking they'd have to operate but didn't in the end. My Mum was told I would never be able to use it properly again and would get early arthritis and I was told that I would never be able to straighten it (cheery sort the consultant Grin ). It was all fairly dire news. My mother is always very matter of fact/no fuss/nurse type but even she was Shock. Anyway I can straighten it, I have no sign of arthritis and I have rowed in the past and climbed, and now I surf (badly), ride horses etc etc. I even broke it again a few years later falling off a horse.

I think what helped was that as soon as it came out of the sling we flew over to San Diego for a month because my Dad was working there - and (this is the bit that helped I think) I swam every day. I suspect the amount of swimming I did made a big difference.

Original poster
HighHeidYin · 07/12/2011 10:50

Thanks jimjams Smile. That's very reassuring. Liking the sound of the consultant Grin

Swimmimg is a great idea. Will encourage that once she is mobile again.

Left a message for the doc to call me back. He is probably used to paranoid parents phoning him after appointments!

OP posts:
midnightmunchies · 07/12/2011 11:12

A&E nurse here, I have seen some awful looking collar bone fractures with either end of the bone miles apart, but it seems standard orthopaedic practice just to leave them for the first few weeks to give them a chance to settle and start healing on their own. Usual practice for a collar bone break is to have a collar 'n' cuff type sling as opposed to the calico type sling, with the arm bent above 90 degrees. This is supposed to enable the weight of the elbow to give some traction to the shoulder and help the bone settle back into place.
Most collar bone fractures even very minor undisplaced ones end up with a lump over the fracture site due to the calcification of the bone.
If your DD's skin is very tight over the end of the fractured bone and it is increasingly painful, I think it would be worth getting it checked again as it could be causing damage to the skin. HTH

Original poster
HighHeidYin · 07/12/2011 11:20

Thankyou so much midnightmunchies! That really helps.

I am waiting for a call back from the consultant and will mention the painful skin problem.

Thanks so much everyone. It is times like this that makes mn invaluable!

OP posts:
JaneBirkin · 07/12/2011 11:23

Listen to she. [no downward arrow on this keyboard, and I'm in classic, but you know who I mean!]

I did wonder about having a different sort of sling to help the bones fit back into place. That would seem a good plan.

Original poster
HighHeidYin · 07/12/2011 11:31

I know who you mean and I like your use of 'she'. Grin

I think it is a collar and cuff sling that dd1 has been given. That describes it very well.

OP posts:
tiredteddy · 07/12/2011 12:21

Just came back to see what was happening. Hope the consultant calls back and you get some reassurance Smile

Original poster
HighHeidYin · 07/12/2011 12:36

Thanks tiredteddy Smile. Hopefully he will phone this afternoon.

OP posts:
Original poster
HighHeidYin · 07/12/2011 15:32

had a call back from a nurse at the fracture clinic. She was really lovely and listened to all my concerns. Said it was a junior doc who had seen dd1. She cancelled the appt that had been made for 2 wks time and has made an earlier appt with the consultant for next week which I feel happier about.

She did say to bring dd1 in if she continues to have problems with the bone rubbing and irritating her skin.

So glad I phoned. Didn't get to speak to a doctor today but am pleased that we will be seeing the consultant soon.

Thanks for all your help and reassurance everyone Smile

OP posts:
supermama212 · 07/12/2011 15:34

18 years old or 18 months? i did this when i was 13 and i fell down stairs ( breaking my foot at the same time but thats another story)
mine didn`t go together and i had a operation and was told never move it again etc - its fine now if she does have the op then its fine - 6-10 wks no use and then fine

TheChristmasTreeSurgeonsMate · 07/12/2011 15:37

Glad you've got another appointment. You don't need to hear about my "s" shaped collar-bone, then? Xmas Wink

Original poster
HighHeidYin · 07/12/2011 15:41

She is 18 yrs supermama - should have known better than to throw herself off walls Hmm.

'S' shaped collar bone???

Ermn thanks but perhaps not today. Traumatised enough Grin

OP posts:
supermama212 · 08/12/2011 17:32

at 18 i would expect better!!! what has the big cheese said then highHeidYin

Swipe left for the next trending thread