Treatment for a baby’s collarbone fracture is usually done only with immobilization of the affected arm. However, in most cases it is not necessary to use an immobilization sling, as in adults, it is only advisable to attach the sleeve of the affected side to the baby’s clothes with a diaper pin, for example, thus avoiding sudden movements of the arm. .
A broken collarbone in the baby occurs very often during a complicated normal birth, but it can also occur when the baby is older due to falls or when it is poorly sustained, for example.
- The collarbone fracture usually heals very quickly.
- So it can be completely healed in just 2 to 3 weeks.
- Without the baby having any complications; however.
- In rarer cases.
- Some sequelae may occur.
- Such as arm paralysis or delayed limb development.
The sequelae of the collarbone fracture are rare and usually only appear when the collarbone ruptures and reaches the nerves in the arm that are near the bone, which can cause paralysis of the arm, loss of sensation, delayed limb development or deformity of the arm and hand, for example.
However, these sequels are not always definitive and can only last as long as the collarbone heals and nerves heal. In addition, there are certain forms of treatment to prevent permanent sequelae, including:
The improvement of the sequelae usually appears within the first 6 months of treatment, after which it is more difficult to achieve. However, forms of treatment can be maintained for several years to achieve slight improvements in a child’s quality of life.
Important precautions to keep your baby comfortable during recovery and avoid aggravating the injury include:
Another very important precaution is to avoid forcing movements with the affected arm after removing immobilization, letting the baby move the arm as much as he or she can.
Recovery from the collarbone fracture is usually done without any problems, however, it is recommended to go to the pediatrician when it appears:
In addition, your pediatrician may schedule an appointment for an exam after 1 week to do an X-ray and evaluate the degree of bone recovery, which can increase or decrease arm downtime.