If you fall off a bike and break your collarbone, surgery may be the best option

Q. Last weekend I fell off my bicycle and landed on my left shoulder. I felt a crunch and couldn’t lift my arm. X-rays done at the emergency room revealed a collarbone fracture that was out of place. The physician showed me the X-rays and it was obvious the collarbone was not connected.

I was given a sling and referred to an orthopedic surgeon. He stated that if left to heal in a sling, I could end up with a shortened collarbone that is painful and weak. He suggested surgery with a metal plate and screws to restore a normal shoulder. I am very active but I also do not want surgery. What is my best option?

A. Fractures of the clavicle “collarbone” commonly occur when falling off a bicycle. When the injury occurs, the clavicle usually breaks in the middle and then separates.

For many years, these injuries were treated with a sling followed by physical therapy. Even if the fracture healed shortened, most people regained normal painless shoulder range of motion and function.

However, in some patients the collarbone did not heal completely and it remained painful and weak. Recent studies suggest that the most predictable good results are surgical.

If you are very active, then in your case surgery may be the best option. I suggest you discuss this further with your orthopedic surgeon and also consider a second opinion.

Dr. Harlan Selesnick is team physician of the Miami Heat and director of Miami Sports Medicine Fellowship, Doctors Hospital. Send your questions to HarlanS@baptisthealth.net