When you decided to ride your bike to work Monday morning, you thought it would be just another normal day. You never expected to end up in the emergency room of Halifax Health Medical Center after being hit by a car.

Although your injuries were minor, you did break your collarbone. The clavicle, or collarbone, connects the upper part of your breast bone to your shoulder blade. When the collarbone is fractured, moving your arm can become difficult, if not impossible. Fortunately, treatment is often fairly easy, but complications with healing can occur.

Complications of a Collarbone Fracture

More severe breaks are prone to complications that cost money to treat and may result in lost time from work. Here are some of those complications:

  • Bone lumps. The clavicle is one of the most highly visible bones in the body, which is a problem when one is fractured and doesn’t heal exactly right. Bumps often form where the break took place. These bumps can disappear over time or become permanent.  
  • Damaged nerves or blood vessels. Clavicles typically form jagged edges where they are broken. These sharp edges can injure the nerves or blood vessels around the fracture, which can cause loss of feeling or excessive bleeding.
  • Osteoarthritis. Not all broken clavicles run the risk of developing osteoarthritis; however, fractures that involve the joint that connects your collarbone to your shoulder blade or breastbone have an increased risk of developing osteoarthritis.

Let Us Help You

You may not know how long you’ll miss work because of your broken clavicle. And you may not know how much your medical bills and treatment will cost, now or in the future. But it’s likely you’ll lose pay due to an accident caused by someone else’s negligence., The attorneys of Johnson and Gilbert can help explain your rights after being injured in an accident. Call us today at 800.556.8890 to speak with someone about your situation and to schedule a free consultation.

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