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May 22, 2013
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Broken Collarbone (cont.)

Medical Author:
Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Dr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications.

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Medical Editor:
Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP
Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP
Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP

Dr. Balentine received his undergraduate degree from McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland. He attended medical school at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine graduating in1983. He completed his internship at St. Joseph's Hospital in Philadelphia and his Emergency Medicine residency at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center in the Bronx, where he served as chief resident.

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Broken Collarbone Treatment

Broken Collarbone Self-Care at Home

  • If someone has been in an automobile accident or suffered a similar trauma, and a broken collarbone is suspected, be cautious and do not move the person. There may be other injuries. Wait for appropriately trained emergency medical services personnel to arrive unless the patient is still in danger if they are not moved.. If the patient must be moved, avoid movements of the neck, back, and injured collarbone as much as possible to avoid further injuries.
  • If it is clear that only a broken collarbone is involved, the most important treatment is pain relief.
    • The arm should be moved as little as possible. An ice pack wrapped in a towel should be applied directly to the broken collarbone. Aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), and acetaminophen (Tylenol) are effective over-the-counter pain relievers for adults; avoid aspirin use in children.
    • A homemade sling can be formed from a large handkerchief, or towel, or from the triangle bandage found in most home first aid kits. Simply fold the handkerchief, or towel, in half to form a triangle. Then fold the triangle around the forearm with one pointy end toward the elbow and the other two ends can be tied around the neck. The elbow should be bent and supported by the sling across the chest.

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Broken Collarbone - Treatment

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What was the treatment for your broken collarbone?

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Broken Collarbone - Recovery Time

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How long did it take for your broken collarbone to heal?

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