Broken Collarbone

Black Widow vs. Brown Recluse Slideshow

• Broken Collarbone Overview
• Broken Collarbone Causes
• Broken Collarbone Symptoms
• When to Seek Medical Care
• Exams and Tests
• Broken Collarbone Treatment
• Self-Care at Home
• Medical Treatment
• Next Steps
• Follow-up
• Prevention
• Outlook
• Multimedia
• Synonyms and Keywords
• Authors and Editors

Broken Collarbone Overview

The clavicle is a bone on either side of your chest. Commonly referred to as the collarbone, it connects your sternum or breastbone to your shoulder.

Doctors use the terms fracture and broken bone to mean the same thing. Most people think of a fracture as being a broken bone where the ends still line up; whereas, a true break occurs when the 2 ends do not line up. Even if doctors use different terms to describe this condition, if you are told you have a fracture, it means you have a broken bone.