Broken collarbone (clavicle) — going-home advice
How to look after a broken collarbone, and the warning signs to watch for.
You have broken your collarbone (clavicle). This is a common injury. Most heal well on their own, without an operation, while the arm is rested in a sling. Please read this and keep it handy, and let someone at home read it too.
Your care details
To be completed by the team before you leave.
These suggest the lung or the blood supply to the arm is affected.
- Difficulty breathing, or breathing that is getting harder
- The hand or fingers look pale, grey or blue, or feel cold compared with the other side
- You suddenly cannot move the hand or fingers at all
- You feel faint, sweaty or very unwell
Come back to the ED or contact the service named above the same day.
- The skin over the bone looks stretched, white or about to break open
- Pins and needles, numbness or weakness in the arm or hand
- Pain that quickly gets much worse and will not settle
- The sling is rubbing, no longer fits, or you are unsure how to wear it
- The lump over the collarbone is getting bigger
Caring for it
- Wear the sling for comfort — adults up to about 6 weeks, children about 3 weeks.
- Several times a day, slip your arm out and gently move your hand, wrist and elbow.
- Let the arm hang and do gentle shoulder swings (pendulums) as the pain allows.
- Sleep propped up on pillows — many people find this more comfortable.
- Take paracetamol or ibuprofen for pain, if you can take them.
- A visible bump over the bone is normal and may stay — it is not a problem.
What to expect as it heals
These are normal and usually settle over a few weeks:
The bump may not fully disappear — that is fine and does not affect how the arm works.
Follow-up and recovery
The virtual fracture clinic will look at your X-rays and contact you about your care — you may not need a face-to-face visit. As the pain eases, gently using the shoulder helps it loosen. Physiotherapy can speed up recovery and is often arranged for you. Most people get back to normal over a few months.