Collarbone

Synonyms

Clavicle, angular shoulder joint, acromion, sternoclavicular joint, ACG, collarbone fracture, clavicle fracture, shoulder girdle

Medical: clavicle

English: clavicle

anatomy

The collarbone (clavicula) is an approximately 12-15 cm long, S-shaped bent bone. The collarbone belongs to the shoulder girdle. It connects the sternum (sternum) with the Acromion (Shoulder height), part of the shoulder blade (Scapula).

The collarbone is articulated with the sternum and the acromion. With the sternum it forms the so-called clavicle-sternum joint (sternoclavicular joint) and with the Acromion (Shoulder height), the shoulder joint (acromioclavicle joint = shoulder joint = ACG).

The entire course of the clavicle can be felt directly under the skin, so it is very prone to fractures. The collarbone serves as the starting point for many muscles, the one in particular Sternocleidomastoid muscle to name, the one on the side of the sternum on the Clavicle starts and the Deltoid muscle, which attaches acromion side.

You can find this in important band structures Coracoclavicular ligamentwhich counteracts the rise of the outer end of the collarbone.

Figure collarbone

1. Collarbone -
   Clavicle
2. Sternum-clavicle
   Joint -
   Articulatio sternoclavicularis
3. Shoulder-collarbone
   Joint -
   Articulatio acromioclavicularis
4. Raven-beak-clavicle-
   tape -
   Coracoclavicular ligament
5. Sternum handle -
   Manubrium sterni
6. Shoulder corner -
   Acromion
7. Raven beak process -
   Coracoid process

You can find an overview of all Dr-Gumpert images at: medical illustrations

Figure shoulder joint

1. Humerus head
2. Shoulder height (Acromion)
3. Shoulder joint
4. Collarbone (Clavicle)
5. Raven beak extension (Coracoid)
6. Shoulder joint (Glenohumeral joint)

function

The collarbone has one important function in the context of shoulder joint mobility. When lifting the arm laterally beyond the horizontal, it is necessary to move the clavicle with its two joints.

The Shoulder joint belongs to Shoulder girdle and is therefore part of the Shoulder joint. The sternoclavicular joint is far from the shoulder joint on the sternum, but it also has for shoulder joint mobility a decisive role.

Diseases and pain in the collarbone

The most common accident-related disease of the collarbone is the clavicle fracture (15% of all bone fractures). In most cases, the outer third of the collarbone is affected. Due to the superficial course directly under the skin, it is usually a direct force of force that leads to a broken collarbone.

Read more on this topic: Pain in the collarbone

Another common injury is the ankle joint explosion (ACG explosion). As a result of the accident, the ligaments of the shoulder joint are torn. The muscle pull pulls the outer end of the clavicle upwards and a step is formed under the skin between the end of the clavicle and shoulder height (acromion). You can press these steps and trigger a typical piano key phenomenon, which is evidence of a complete tearing of the ligaments.

A rupture of the sternum-clavicle joint (sterno-clavicle joint) is rather rare and is almost always treated conservatively.

break of collarbone

The collarbone fracture is one of the most common broken bones. It is usually the result of a fall, e.g. B. when cycling or inline skating.

Read more about the topic on the main page: break of collarbone

There are basically two causes of a broken collarbone. This is either a direct impact trauma in a fall on the shoulder or, much more often, an indirect injury to the collarbone, e.g. B. by falling on the outstretched arm.

The most typical symptom of a broken bone is severe pain that occurs with every movement of the arm or chest. Other symptoms may include swelling and a bruise over the fracture, and possibly a palpable step formation in the course of the bone.

In addition to a detailed questionnaire about the cause of the injury and an examination by the doctor, an X-ray from several directions is usually used for diagnosis. If there is no reason for surgical treatment, therapy is carried out with a so-called backpack bandage. This exerts as much tension as possible on the collarbone and thus stabilizes the broken edges against each other. The wearing time is usually at least 6 weeks. An operation may be necessary if z. B. there is an open fracture, the edges of the fracture are shifted more than 2 cm from one another or, in addition to the fracture of the collarbone, there are also vascular or nerve injuries and serial rib fractures.

Please also read: Therapy of a broken collarbone

Pain in the collarbone from joints

Aside from fractures of the bone, the most common pain in the collarbone originates from the joints. On the one hand, these are that Collarbone-sternum joint and on the other hand that Shoulder jointwhich connects the collarbone to the shoulder blade.

If the pain was preceded by a fall or an accident Injuries to the joint ligaments very likely as the cause. With these there is usually a Pressure and movement pain as well as a swelling just above the affected joint. The therapy depends on the severity of the injuries and any displacement of the collarbone.

At Injuries to the collarbone-sternum joint, without displacement of the bone, is usually enough a symptomatic treatment with painkillers and anti-inflammatory substances, as the joint is sufficiently stabilized by the surrounding structures.

In the case of ankle joint injuries, the therapeutic measures, depending on the severity of the injury, range from therapy with anti-inflammatory drugs and, if necessary, the application of a shoulder arm bandage over a few days for pain relief, to surgical interventions.

Read more about these topics: Shoulder joint dislocation and shoulder joint instability

Another cause of pain in the joints can be osteoarthritis, i.e. signs of wear and tear on the joint cartilage, as well as inflammation. These can be treated with anti-inflammatory agents, ointment dressings or the injection of anesthetics into the joint. Age-related wear of the shoulder joint can lead to osteoarthritis with spurs. This spur can restrict the mobility of the shoulder joint and lead to so-called impingement symptoms (shoulder bottleneck syndrome).

Appointment with a shoulder specialist

I would be happy to advise you!

Who am I?
My name is Carmen Heinz. I am a specialist in orthopedics and trauma surgery in the specialist team of .

The shoulder joint is one of the most complicated joints in the human body.

The treatment of the shoulder (rotator cuff, impingement syndrome, calcified shoulder (tendinosis calcarea, biceps tendon, etc.) therefore requires a lot of experience.
I treat a wide variety of shoulder diseases in a conservative way.
The aim of any therapy is treatment with full recovery without surgery.
Which therapy achieves the best results in the long term can only be determined after looking at all of the information (Examination, X-ray, ultrasound, MRI, etc.) be assessed.

You can find me in:

• Lumedis - your orthopedic surgeon
  Kaiserstrasse 14
  60311 Frankfurt am Main

Directly to the online appointment arrangement
Unfortunately, it is currently only possible to make an appointment with private health insurers. I hope for your understanding!
You can find more information about myself at Carmen Heinz.

Shift of the collarbone

The Collarbone is about its articulated connections to the Sternum and to the shoulder firmly in Shoulder girdle anchored. If there is a displacement, it can therefore be assumed that there is an injury in one of these joints and that ligament structures are damaged.

If the displacement is not at the ends but in the course of the bone, there is usually a fracture. Depending on the extent of the shift can a surgery become necessary to the direction of the bone. In the case of a minor injury, however, one is usually sufficient Immobilization and aligning the bone using a bandage.

Swelling on the collarbone - what could be behind it?

In addition to fall or accident-related injuries to the bones and joints can also other causes Cause swelling in the collarbone. One of these causes is swollen lymph nodes. These lie along the top of the bone and are usually not palpable. As part of an inflammation however, they can swell and become palpable. Are you here from one give way Consistency, under pressure not painful and one that can easily be moved against its surroundings is probably one of them acute inflammation in the area.

Hard, immovable lymph nodes can, however, indicate a chronic cause and should be further clarified by a doctor. Other reasons for swelling, especially over the joints, can be rheumatoid, so chronic inflammatory, or changes due to Signs of wear and tear be in the joints. However, these are usually associated with pain and restricted mobility.

Tattoo on the collarbone - how painful is it?

Pain is very subjective and everyone feels differently. Therefore, it is hardly possible to make general statements about how painful a tattoo on the collarbone, for example, is.

In general, however, it can be said that places where the skin is thin and the bones are very superficial, such as on the collarbone, are significantly more sensitive to pain than parts of the body where the subcutaneous fatty tissue is very pronounced. This is because the outermost layer of the bone is supplied with a large number of pain-conducting nerve endings, whereas z. B. the adipose tissue has no pain fibers. If the periosteum is irritated by the needle when the tattoo is pierced, this usually creates more pain than if only the skin and the underlying fatty tissue are hit.