Clavicle break chances of op?

[meanttobeonhols]

Hi all,
Broke my clavicle last Saturday playing sport, the nurse at the time after my x-ray showed me the x-ray and said that I would see consultant on Monday to discuss if needed operation. I got a call Monday from nurse to say he would like to see me on Fri.
I was due to fly on holiday today, but I cancelled as the pain is horrific and no way could I have sat on a plane for 4 hours.

Is there anyone that could advise on whether they thing I will need an op and if i need to push to be seen sooner , the bruising has really come out today and the lump has swollen more. I have never broke anything before so any advice is greatly received.

Have you at least got your arm in a suitable sling and taking pain killers? I can sympathise. I broke my clavicle and 3 ribs due to a fall and it is very painful. Luckily mine was a clean break and it healed on it's own. I still have some pain at the fracture sites 6 years later though. I doubt you will get anywhere over the weekend. Have you informed your travel insurers?

Oh - just seen the photograph. It isn't lined up is it. That must be very sore. I could feel the broken ends of mine moving, but it did at least fit back together and stay put with the sling on. I couldn't use my arm for weeks.

Yes have a sling , I had just gotten out of the bath. I just can't see how it's going to join back naturally when one bone is below the other 😖. No we cancelled holiday , first one away for me and DH without kids 😭nevermind. Hopefully the insurance we had will cover it and can get something else booked for next year .

No. I am not an expert but that doesn't look as if it will heal. This doctor's strike isn't helpful at all. I have had 5 important appointments cancelled in the last couple of months. Clinical urgency doesn't appear to be a factor.

My break looked like that.
Kept it in a sling as much as possible.
I didn’t need surgery.

The bone will heal. It will be deferent to be before but it won’t be painful and will be functioning. Surgery is really only done if there is “critical skin” which should have been death with immediately

This happened to a family member who waited a while for the op. Just after he was admitted he was x rayed and found the bones had fused - no op was needed.

That looks almost identical to my husband’s break. He went over the handlebars of his bike.

We were about to go on holiday, so he elected not to have it surgically fixed - he was advised the outcome would not be much better than letting it heal. So - it did fuse and caused him no subsequent pain. It’s not very pretty though! It sticks out a lot.

Hi all, thanks for the reply. I went yest and had another xray. long story short I am having it fixed with a plate and screws.