1. A Common Sports Injury
Trauma to the area on either side of the base of the neck may cause a broken collar bone. The bones of the clavicle or collar bone run along the front of the shoulder to the breast bone. Collar bones typically get broken from falling the wrong way, rolling onto the shoulder or falling with your arm stretched out. Running into an opponent at full force in sports like football, soccer or rugby is another way to break a collar bone.
2. Sore to the Touch
One of the symptoms of a broken collar bone is soreness or tenderness to the touch. If you experience extreme pain when lightly touching your collar bone, chances are you've got a break. This is especially true if you were involved in a sports activity or accident involving you shoulders or arms. The area around the collar bone doesn't usually get muscle aches like the joints do, so soreness in this area isn't a normal thing.
3. Just Swell
If you look at your collar bone in the mirror and find one side is noticeably larger than the other, is bruised or puffy, this is sign of serous injury. On a normal sized person, the collar bone is easily visible, so swelling in this area is obvious. If there is also pain with arm use, this could mean a broken collar bone. A person with this injury will tend to keep the affected arm immobile to relieve pain.
4. Look Skin Deep
The collar bone is really close to the surface of the skin, so often you can see the edges of the fracture. This doesn't mean the fracture is protruding out of the skin, just that it is evident beneath the surface. Swelling will not necessarily hide the protrusion, but it will become more noticeable as the swelling goes down.
5. Don't Delay
A broken collar bone is a common sports injury that requires immediate medical treatment. With proper care and physical therapy, the effects of a broken collar bone will be minimal. If it's a clean well positioned fracture, usually immobilization of the arm is all that's necessary. If the bone is severely displaced doctors use surgery to reposition the bones. During surgery orthopedic doctors use pins to keep the bones in place while healing. Use ice packs to reduce swelling and range of motion therapy as prescribed by your doctor.
