Rehabilitation of a conservatively managed clavicular fracture

Abstract

The collarbone, or wishbone, is a thin, S-shaped bone about 6 inches (15 cm) long and serves as a support between the shoulder blade and the sternum (sternum). Clavicle fracture so occur as a result of injury or trauma. The most common site of fracture is the junction between the two curvatures of the bone, which is the weakest point. The displacement post fracture is most common in clavicular fracture because the attachment of the muscle sternocleidomastoid pulls the Sternal head upwards and the pectoral muscle pulls the distal clavicle downwards. After a distal clavicle fracture, radiographic nonunion has been identified in 10% to 44% of patients. Most of clavicular fractures are managed non-surgically by physical therapy which consists of a rehabilitation program without hampering the fracture healing, the rehabilitation consists of pain reduction, improving strength and range of motion of the shoulder, Scapular and neck muscles and postural correction exercises in addition to a brace to support the upper limb as the clavicle is the bone connecting the Axilla to the shoulder girdle. And the patient is started with medical management which usually consist of analgesics. 62 year old male patient with left clavicle fracture was diagnosed on x-ray after a hit from a bullock cart. Following this incident the patient underwent a prompt series of physical rehabilitation which included strengthening exercises, thoracic expansion exercises, breathing exercises. The case report suggests that a physiotherapy treatment procedure led to the improvement of functional goals progressively and significantly.