The collarbone (also called the clavicle) is the bone that connects the breastbone to the shoulder. A broken collarbone, also called a clavicle fracture, is when this bone breaks. Most broken collarbones heal well with ice, arm support (such as a sling or shoulder immobilizer), pain medicine, and exercises.

• Use ice for pain and swelling. Put an icepack, cold gel pack, or bag of frozen vegetables over the collarbone for 20-30 minutes every 2-3 hours. Be sure to put a towel between the ice/cold pack and your child's skin.
• Use the sling or shoulder immobilizer as directed by your health care provider. It will be worn for about a month, but can be taken off during bathing and sleeping.
• Follow your health care provider's instructions on giving medicine for pain.
• For about the first 4-6 weeks, your child should:
  • Avoid raising the arms above the shoulder. 
  • Avoid lifting anything that weighs more than 5 pounds (2.3 kg). This is about the weight of a 72-ounce bottle of liquid laundry detergent. 
  • Stay out of all sports and physical education.
• Help your child do all exercises to prevent elbow and shoulder stiffness and to help with muscle strength.
• Take your child to physical therapy, if needed.
• Take your child to all follow-up appointments.

• Your child has pain or swelling that gets worse.
• Your child's arm is cold, pale, or numb.

How is a broken collarbone treated? Most broken collarbones heal with ice, arm support with a sling or shoulder immobilizer, pain medicine, and exercises. The sling or immobilizer is worn for several weeks while the bone heals. Ice can help with pain and swelling.

Will the collarbone heal straight? Even if the broken bones aren't perfectly lined up, the body usually can make the bones straight again. This is because the collarbone has a thick periosteum (outer layer of the bone). The collarbone periosteum usually does not break, so it acts as a sleeve to hold the bone together while it heals.

Sometimes while a broken collarbone heals, there is a bump where the bone was broken. In children who are still growing, the bump tends to get smaller and go away within a year. Sometimes the bump doesn't fully go away. The bump doesn't hurt or cause other problems with the arm or shoulder.

When can my child go back to sports? Your health care provider will see your child again and let you know when your child can go back to sports. This is usually when:

• There is no pain when the health care provider presses on the collarbone.
• The shoulder strength is normal.
• Your child can move and use the arm without pain.

In general, kids can go back to noncontact sports (such as running or swimming) in about 6 weeks and contact sports (such as football, lacrosse, or hockey) in 8-12 weeks.