EddyV,
I am not really to surprised that in your profession you would see a lot of people opting for plate surgery. However, generally speaking, I would be hesitant to say (from my own experience and from all of the large studies done throughout the years) that surgery is the best option for normal breaks in the clavicle. This of course would not be the case for mulitply breaks in the clavicle, older people with weaker bones, smokers, etc. I have the feeling that you see a lot of folks in various athletic fields or people that are inordinately concerned about their clavicle and shoulders, so as to get back to their sport as soon as possible.
Unfortunately, I think a majority of people are now being shuttle and cajoled into clavicle surgery ( that most likely do not need it) for unethical reasons. I was a good example of this scenario. I was 63 yrs. and in good health when I girl pulled out on a highway while texting and I t-boned her going about 65 m/h. I had some 14 broken bones mainly in my torso but recently found out that the sternum was the most serious. It broke and punched on through to my arota but did not rupture it. If so I would not be her writing this message. My collar bone was a good clean break in the middle but by the time I left the hospital with them constantly throwing me around for x-rays, it become 140% displaced, Both of my surgeons continually tried to get me to have surgery on my clavicle through intimidation, fear, and basically saying I was risking my future for not doing it.
Fortunately, I was just to sick with fever and pain from all the other injuries to have it done right a way, so I begged off.
I too was highly concerned because I have been a swimmer my whole life and needed that bone and my shoulder to continue my active lifestyle. I was immobile for my first two weeks because of various injuries but then started my own rehab program. At six weeks I was swimming a half mile in a local hot springs. At two months I was back in the pool training. It has now been about 10 months and not only has it completely fused together but I believe that whole bone is stronger and thicker now than it was before. Tuesday, I swam for 2 hours hard. 25% aerobic and 75% interval sprints. (15) 100yd (free, back, breast) with 10 sec. rest (10) 75yd backstroke 15 sec., (20) 50 yd mixed sprints with 30 seconds rest. and then the real test a lot of 25yd butterfly. The next day I was a little sore in my knees where I had fractures but felt absolutley no pain in the clavicle or shoulder. Nothing, Nada!
I now feel that it would have been a big mistake and fortutious hap-in-stance not to have a plate and all that hardware put into such a crucial spot for me. Not only has the collar break fused together but all the other 13 ribs, sternum, veterbrae, knees and even my sight in my left eye appears to have healed itself. The whole process has left me in total amazment! When I now read about all the problems that everyone on this board is having from plate surgery, I just thank my lucky stars that I was not one of them...
I am not really to surprised that in your profession you would see a lot of people opting for plate surgery. However, generally speaking, I would be hesitant to say (from my own experience and from all of the large studies done throughout the years) that surgery is the best option for normal breaks in the clavicle. This of course would not be the case for mulitply breaks in the clavicle, older people with weaker bones, smokers, etc. I have the feeling that you see a lot of folks in various athletic fields or people that are inordinately concerned about their clavicle and shoulders, so as to get back to their sport as soon as possible.
Unfortunately, I think a majority of people are now being shuttle and cajoled into clavicle surgery ( that most likely do not need it) for unethical reasons. I was a good example of this scenario. I was 63 yrs. and in good health when I girl pulled out on a highway while texting and I t-boned her going about 65 m/h. I had some 14 broken bones mainly in my torso but recently found out that the sternum was the most serious. It broke and punched on through to my arota but did not rupture it. If so I would not be her writing this message. My collar bone was a good clean break in the middle but by the time I left the hospital with them constantly throwing me around for x-rays, it become 140% displaced, Both of my surgeons continually tried to get me to have surgery on my clavicle through intimidation, fear, and basically saying I was risking my future for not doing it.
Fortunately, I was just to sick with fever and pain from all the other injuries to have it done right a way, so I begged off.
I too was highly concerned because I have been a swimmer my whole life and needed that bone and my shoulder to continue my active lifestyle. I was immobile for my first two weeks because of various injuries but then started my own rehab program. At six weeks I was swimming a half mile in a local hot springs. At two months I was back in the pool training. It has now been about 10 months and not only has it completely fused together but I believe that whole bone is stronger and thicker now than it was before. Tuesday, I swam for 2 hours hard. 25% aerobic and 75% interval sprints. (15) 100yd (free, back, breast) with 10 sec. rest (10) 75yd backstroke 15 sec., (20) 50 yd mixed sprints with 30 seconds rest. and then the real test a lot of 25yd butterfly. The next day I was a little sore in my knees where I had fractures but felt absolutley no pain in the clavicle or shoulder. Nothing, Nada!
I now feel that it would have been a big mistake and fortutious hap-in-stance not to have a plate and all that hardware put into such a crucial spot for me. Not only has the collar break fused together but all the other 13 ribs, sternum, veterbrae, knees and even my sight in my left eye appears to have healed itself. The whole process has left me in total amazment! When I now read about all the problems that everyone on this board is having from plate surgery, I just thank my lucky stars that I was not one of them...
