Broken collarbone (clavicle fracture)
Also called: clavicle fracture, broken collar bone, fractured clavicle, fractured collarbone, broken clavicle. Clinical name: Clavicle fracture, most often in the middle (shaft) of the bone.
A broken collarbone usually takes 6–8 weeks to heal in adults and 3–4 weeks in children (NHS), with some sources giving 8–12 weeks. It needs an X-ray first, and most heal in a sling without surgery.
What it actually is
The collarbone (clavicle) is the bone that runs across the top of your chest from the breastbone to the shoulder, and breaking it is common: AAOS puts it at about 5% of all adult fractures. It usually goes in a fall directly onto the shoulder or onto an outstretched arm, which is why it’s so familiar after going over the handlebars, a fall from a horse, or a heavy tackle in rugby or GAA. A broken collarbone needs an X-ray and a clinician, so the first step is A&E or an urgent care or injury unit, not a wait-and-see at home. Support the arm in a sling or a towel and avoid using it until it has been seen.
The good news is that most collarbone breaks heal in a sling without surgery. The NHS says adults usually recover in 6 to 8 weeks and children in 3 to 4, though Cleveland Clinic puts adult healing at 8 to 12 weeks, and AAOS says most people are back to regular activities within about three months. Surgery is kept for breaks where the ends are badly out of line, which the NHS describes as rare. These are typical ranges, not a promise: age, where the bone broke, smoking and diabetes all shift the timeline.
The awkward bit is the middle. After two or three weeks the pain eases and the sling starts to feel optional, but the bone is still knitting, and the lump over the break is just new bone forming. That’s when people lift too much or get back on the bike too soon. Keep the elbow, wrist and hand moving early, get the shoulder going as the pain allows, and leave contact sport and anything with a real risk of a fall until the fracture has fully healed and your fracture clinic, physio or club medic agrees. A simple daily record of pain and reach shows when the shoulder is genuinely ready, not just when it feels better.
How bad is it?
A broken collarbone isn't graded 1–2–3. What shapes recovery is where the break is and whether the broken ends have moved. Most breaks are in the middle of the bone, and most heal in a sling without surgery, especially when the ends haven't shifted much (AAOS). When the ends are very displaced (well out of line), or the break damages nearby nerves or blood vessels, surgery with a plate and screws or pins may be discussed (AAOS; Cleveland Clinic), though the NHS says needing surgery is rare. Typical healing in adults is 6 to 8 weeks according to the NHS and 8 to 12 weeks according to Cleveland Clinic, and AAOS says most people are back to regular activities within about 3 months. Children heal faster: usually 3 to 4 weeks (NHS).
How long will it take?
Recovery moves in phases. This is the typical shape of it. Yours may run faster or slower, and the numbers below are general ranges, not a forecast for your specific injury.
When to get it looked at
Most cases settle with time and sensible loading. Get it assessed by a professional if any of these apply, as they can point to something that needs hands-on care:
- Bone sticking out through the skin, heavy bleeding, or a shoulder that has changed shape or swelled very quickly: go to A&E, or call 999 if you can't get there
- Chest pain, difficulty breathing or coughing up blood after a collarbone injury: go to A&E or call 999
- A broken bone end pressing up under the skin so it looks tented: go to A&E the same day
- Numbness, tingling or weakness in the arm or hand, feeling faint, or pain that is new or getting worse: contact your fracture clinic straight away, or NHS 111 out of hours
- A very painful, swollen or bruised shoulder after a fall, or an arm you can't use normally, that hasn't been X-rayed: get it checked the same day (NHS 111 can tell you where to go)
- Pain that is still significant after several months, or a shoulder that stays stiff and isn't improving: contact your fracture clinic, as the bone may be slow to heal
This is a list of warning signs, not a diagnosis. If you are worried, or the pain is severe, see a GP, physiotherapist or urgent care.
What to track while you recover
A broken collarbone feels a lot better well before the bone is strong, and that gap is where people come unstuck. A short daily record of pain, reach and what the arm did keeps the progress honest and gives the fracture clinic something real to look at.
- Pain score, 0 to 10, at rest, at night, and on the hardest thing the arm did today
- How high the arm reaches without sharp pain: chest height, shoulder height, overhead
- Sling hours and sleep: how you slept, propped up or flat, and how often the shoulder woke you
- Exercises done (elbow, wrist and hand first, then shoulder), and anything that caused a sharp catch or grinding
- What you lifted, carried or tried (shopping bags, steering, the bike, a gym session) and how it felt the next morning
This is exactly what InjuryLog does.
Log each of these in seconds, watch the trend build day by day, and keep every scan and receipt tied to this one injury. Free on iOS, Android soon.
What to tell your physio
At the fracture clinic or with a physio, the X-ray shows the bone, but your record shows how the shoulder is actually working. Bring the detail.
- How it happened: a fall onto the shoulder, onto an outstretched arm, or a collision, and the sport or activity
- What the X-ray showed (where the break is and whether the ends had moved), and whether surgery was discussed
- Your pain trend, night pain, and any grinding, catching or numbness in the arm or hand
- How high the arm reaches now, and which daily tasks are still hard: dressing, washing your hair, carrying, driving
- Your job, sport and level, whether you smoke or have diabetes (both can slow healing), and the date you're aiming for
Walk in with the whole picture.
InjuryLog turns your daily logs into a clean Physio Visit Pack, a one-page summary your physio can actually read, so the first appointment starts with facts, not guesswork.
The questions people actually ask
How long does a broken collarbone take to heal?
The NHS says most adults recover in 6 to 8 weeks and children usually in 3 to 4 weeks. Other sources run longer: Cleveland Clinic gives 8 to 12 weeks for adults, 6 to 8 weeks for teenagers and 3 to 6 weeks for children under 8, and AAOS says healing can take several months, with most people back to regular activities within 3 months. The spread reflects age, where the break is, whether it needed surgery, and things like smoking or diabetes, which slow healing. Treat any figure as a typical range rather than a promise.
What are the symptoms of a broken collarbone?
Usually sharp pain over the collarbone straight after a fall or a hit, with swelling, bruising and tenderness along the bone. AAOS describes the shoulder sagging down and forwards, being unable to lift the arm because of pain, a grinding feeling when you try, and a bump or deformity over the break. The NHS adds that the shoulder may look a different shape, and occasionally bone can come through the skin. Any of these after a shoulder injury means an X-ray: go to A&E if the shoulder has changed shape or bone is showing.
What is the best sleeping position with a broken collarbone?
Propped up rather than flat is what hospital leaflets suggest. One NHS trust leaflet (WWL) says it may be more comfortable to sleep sitting upright using extra pillows, and a children's leaflet from North Tees and Hartlepool suggests sleeping upright for a few days with the sling worn inside clothing. Advice on wearing the sling at night varies: Cleveland Clinic says to wear it all day and night for the first several weeks, so follow what your fracture clinic told you. If pain wakes you every night and isn't easing, mention it at your follow-up.
Does a broken collarbone need surgery?
Usually not. Most broken collarbones, especially breaks in the middle of the bone where the ends haven't moved much, heal in a sling (AAOS), and the NHS says surgery is only needed if the break is very bad, which is rare. Surgery is considered when the broken ends are very displaced, or when the break damages nearby nerves, blood vessels, ligaments or tendons (AAOS; Cleveland Clinic). The usual operation holds the bone with a plate and screws or with pins, and plates are not usually removed unless they cause discomfort (AAOS). The decision is made with an orthopaedic surgeon.
When can I play sport after a broken collarbone?
Not until the bone has fully healed. The NHS says not to play sport while you're recovering and to ask your doctor when to return, and AAOS says sport resumes once the fracture has completely healed, with most people back to regular activities within 3 months. One NHS trust leaflet (WWL) adds that you should be pain-free with full shoulder movement first. AAOS warns that activity too early can shift the broken ends or damage any metalwork. For rugby, GAA, hockey, cycling or horse riding, agree the timing with your fracture clinic, physio or club medic. Any date is an estimate.
Will I have a lump on my collarbone after it heals?
Quite possibly, and it's usually nothing to worry about. As the bone heals it forms new bone (callus) around the break, and a lump often appears over the collarbone. WWL describes it as a normal part of healing that may stay for good, and AAOS says a large bump usually shrinks but a small one often remains. In children it can take up to a year to fade, and a small bump may stay in children over 10 (North Tees and Hartlepool). A bump can also mean the bone healed slightly out of position (Cleveland Clinic), so mention it if it bothers you.
How long does a broken collarbone take to heal in a child?
Faster than in adults. The NHS says usually 3 to 4 weeks, and Cleveland Clinic gives 3 to 6 weeks for children under 8 and 6 to 8 weeks for teenagers. A children's leaflet from North Tees and Hartlepool expects some pain or discomfort for 4 to 6 weeks, says swimming is fine as soon as it's comfortable, and advises no contact sport such as football or rugby for 6 weeks. Children still need an X-ray and a clinician at the start, and the fracture clinic will guide the return to PE and sport.
Sources
- Broken collarbone, NHS
- Clavicle Fracture (Broken Collarbone), AAOS OrthoInfo
- Clavicle Fracture (Broken Collarbone): Treatment & Recovery, Cleveland Clinic
- Clavicle Fracture (Adult), WWL Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Child's clavicle fracture (broken collar bone): discharge advice, North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust