How can you tell if your collarbone is broken?

Question

My 13 year old fell and hit is collarbone. He can move it up, down and around; however he can not move his arm straight in front of his body. The area is a little swelled but overall not to bad. He seems to be in a little pain but not too much.

Answer 1

Get an X-ray. If not the hospital, try an outpatient clinic. Do it soon!

Answer 2

my sincere apologies for the delay.

first define collarbone/clavicle.
it starts from the upper junction of the neck and chest and goes toward the shoulder.
you should be able to palpate this bone from beginning to end.
a tender spot may be a fracture or just a contusion.

ONLY AN X RAY CAN TELL.

as a rule, we never tell whether it is broken or not without an x ray.
if you say it it is ok and somebody finds out a crack fracture later,
no matter how small, you end up making a fool of yourself.

however, since you need help, i will commit- i may be wrong!

clavicle usually breaks at its outer and middle third junction due to a fall on outstretched arm.

if it does break, the patient wil not be able to lift his arm.

not saying that direct blow will not fracture the clavicle, but your history does not support a complete fracture. to me this seems like a contusion.

by now. his pain should have come down, and he should have only a small lingering ache on that area. if this is so, then it is unlikely to be a complete and displaced fracture of the clavicle and requires minimal treatment. paracetamol or any mild painkiller may suffice.

please use your e mail address, so that i can reply directly next time. you can send me a photograph showing both his shoulders (for symmetry) if you want, but nothing beats an x ray.

dr.cv krishnakumar MBBS, D'ORTH, DNB ORTH, MNAMS
[e-mail]
09447134041

glad to be of service. sorry for the delay.

Answer 3

Sometimes it may be hard to tell if a bone is fractured, which it might be, but rest assure that if his collar bone was broken, you would have no doubt, and it would be clear by the fact that he would crying and rolling around in pain screaming

Answer 4

If youre smart enough to know what the hell a collarbone is then you should be smart enough to go to the hospital.

Answer 5

The only way to be sure is to go to the doctor and get X-rays.

Answer 6

I suggest you see two doctors. A shrink for you for keeping your kid in any pain, and a doctor for your kid!

Answer 7

Ask a doctor.
But generally, if you break a bone, you will know it.
Unconditionally.