Broken collarbone

You may have broken your collarbone if you've been injured and your shoulder:

• is very painful
• is swollen or bruised
• has changed shape
• has bone sticking out of the skin

Sometimes a broken collarbone can lead to complications that cause other symptoms such as:

• chest pain
• difficulty breathing
• coughing up blood

But this is rare.

If you think you've broken your collarbone, there are some things you can do while you're waiting to see a doctor.

You should:

• use a towel or bandage to put the affected arm in a sling
• stop any bleeding by putting pressure on the wound with a clean towel or dressing, if possible
• avoid using the affected shoulder or arm
• avoid touching the bone if it's sticking out from your skin

You'll need to have X-rays to check if you've broken your collarbone. A broken collarbone needs to be treated in hospital.

Your arm will usually be put in a sling to help your collarbone heal. You'll also be given painkillers to help with pain.

If the break is very bad you may need surgery to repair it, but this is rare.

You'll usually be shown some shoulder and arm exercises to do at home to help you recover quicker.

After you've left the hospital, you'll need to go for follow-up appointments to check how your collarbone is healing.

Most people recover from a broken collarbone in 6 to 8 weeks. Children often recover quicker, usually in 3 to 4 weeks.

You may need to wear a sling for 2 to 3 weeks. You'll then need to rest your shoulder for a few more weeks and keep doing the exercises you've been given, until it's fully recovered

There are some things you can do to help your recovery.

• take painkillers to help with the pain

• regularly do the shoulder and arm exercises you've been given

• try to do your usual daily activities as much as possible, without using your shoulder

• get advice from your doctor about when you can go back to more physical activities, such as playing sports

• do not do any lifting or play sport while you're recovering

Symptoms of a broken collarbone affect your shoulder and can include severe pain, swelling, bruising and a change in the shape of your shoulder.

A broken collarbone needs to be treated in hospital. Your arm will usually be put in a sling to help it heal, and you'll be given painkillers.

A broken collarbone usually heals in 6 to 8 weeks. You'll need to wear a sling for 2 to 3 weeks and do shoulder and arm exercises until it heals.