Call 911 if:
- The person is experiencing tingling.
- There is numbness or weakness in the hand or arm.
- The injury is near the sternum and the person is having shortness of breath or difficulty swallowing.
1. Get Medical Help Immediately
- Get the person to a hospital emergency room or to a health care provider.
2. Immobilize the Arm
- Avoid moving the affected arm.
- Hold the arm close to the body with the other arm or a sling with the hand raised higher than the elbow.
3. Reduce Pain and Swelling
- Apply ice for pain and swelling.
- Give over-the-counter acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) for pain unless there is a break in the skin over the fracture, which may require surgery.
4. Follow Up
- The health care provider will examine the shoulder and may X-ray the shoulder and chest.
- The health care provider may put the arm in a sling to immobilize it and apply a figure eight strap to help maintain shoulder position. Surgery is rarely required.
SOURCES:
Mount Nittany Medical Center: "Shoulder Blade or Collarbone Fracture."
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: "Broken Collarbone."
Johns Hopkins Medicine: "Patient Guide to Clavicle (Collarbone) Fracture."
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