==== Introduction ==== {{ wiki:gb.jpg}} ### This is me, Graham. I had managed to reach the grand old age of 52 without breaking a bone in my body. That is, until Friday 7th August 2015 when a freak cycling accident brought my life to a bit of a stand still. Within days I found myself in hospital undergoing a two hour operation followed by weeks of restricted use of my left arm. During the time between the accident and the operation I did a lot of online research, watched hours of surgical procedure footage, received direct contact from Orthopaedic surgeons in the US and the UK, as well words of wisdom from cyclists, skiers and other athletes. The upshot is that with most displaced fractures the long term function and symmetry is much improved when treated operatively. ### {{wiki:clavicle:clav01.jpg?200&direct}} {{wiki:clavicle:clav02.jpg?200&direct}} {{wiki:clavicle:clav03.jpg?200&direct}} {{wiki:clavicle:clav04.jpg?200&direct}} ### I was inspired by this page http://john.jpy.com/clavicle/ - I came to realise that people frequently feel the need to share experiences as a part of the healing process. If you are in the unenviable position of going through consultation due to clavicle fracture, with even small amounts of displacement, and even though surgery may seem like drastic steps, the outcome is nearly always better compared to non-surgical treatment. Whilst I am not an expert, and every case should be treated individually, having now gone through the entire process myself I would definitely have advised my future self in not deliberating any further and insisted on getting 'plated' as soon as possible. ### ==== The Accident ==== ### Friday 7th August, 2015 - I was coming back from a quick morning spin on my folding bike, and just round the corner from my house ran over an 1.5" wood screw. The wood screw lodged itself in the back tyre at right angles, rotated round and hit the back of the mudguard. The mudguard compressed and shattered, and a section of the mudguard rotated around underneath the back tyre. Within a single rotation of the wheels I had a shiny piece of pvc mudguard lodged under my back tyre, at which point the friction-less nature of the contact with the road, coupled with the existing forward momentum and downward force of gravity of my 13 stone body, caused the bike to 'pop-out' completely from underneath me, resulting in a left hand superman dive into the tarmac. Due to the instantaneous nature of the above I did not have time to get my arm down and the entire force of impact was taken by my left shoulder. ### //"One second I was speeding along the road, the next I had an eye level view of the surface of the tarmac"// {{wiki:clavicle:clav06.jpg?200&direct}} {{wiki:clavicle:clav07.jpg?200&direct}} {{wiki:clavicle:clav08.jpg?200&direct}} {{wiki:clavicle:clav09.jpg?200&direct}} ### Whilst I instinctively kept my head from hitting the floor I was suddenly aware of severe pain in my ribs and shoulder. A few drivers tried to help me up, offered me lifts and dragged my bike onto the pavement. Crazily I declined their offers and pushed my bike to the house with my right arm, all the time becoming more and more aware that something was seriously wrong with my left arm / shoulder. By the time I got to the house my left arm was held protectively across the front of my body and I knew I did not want to move it. Doing so resulted in a pretty awful and sickening 'grating' sensation within the shoulder. The rest of Friday was pretty much a blur. I had passed out several times in the house with pain, rang my girlfriend who called an ambulance, was taken to hospital, given morphine and X-Rayed. The result was as you can see above: a midshaft clavicle fracture with greater than 2cm displacement! ### ==== Recovery ==== ### ### ==== Images ==== List of plates from top to bottom, left to right; - My Cresswell Micro folding bike which I've since sold & bought a Dahon - The junction of Marshside Rd & Fylde Rd where the accident happened - The pieces of fractured mudguard and the naughty woodscrew - X-Ray on the day of the accident showing the amount of displacement - Just coming round on the ward following having the plate fitted - First X-Ray following the operation showing the plate in place - Back at home showing the wound following several dressing changes - A few months later most of the swelling is gone and scar is fading ==== Articles ==== A selection of articles that may help you in your research. Midshaft Clavicle Fractures: A Critical Review\\ https://journals.healio.com/doi/10.3928/01477447-20160517-06 Clavicle Fracture: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment\\ https://patient.info/doctor/clavicle-fracture The outcome of surgical fixation of mid shaft clavicle fractures\\ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3507327/ Surgical Treatment of Mid-Shaft Clavicle Fractures: Plate Fixation and Clinical Outcomes\\ https://www.researchgate.net/publication/307789423_Surgical_Treatment_of_Mid-Shaft_Clavicle_Fractures_Plate_Fixation_and_Clinical_Outcomes === Videos === A selection of educational videos showing clavicle operations as well as a longer in depth lecture. Distal Clavicle Fracture ORIF and CC Reconstruction\\ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjaCDo4xsIc Comminuted Mid-Shaft Clavicle Fracture - Open Reduction & Internal Fixation\\ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awU4V32zv8g Mid-Shaft Clavicle Fracture - Reduction & Internal Fixations\\ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHd38haELIg Fixation of Displaced Midshaft Clavicular Fractures\\ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_jD8UVbZ9s ORIF Distal Clavicle with Synthes Distal Clavicle Locking Plate\\ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxwxjHcITX4 ==== Timeline ==== ^ Date ^ Event ^ | Fri 07th Aug 2015 | Day of accident & first X-Ray | | Tue 11th Aug 2015 | First assessment by consultant | | Wed 12th Aug 2015 | Day of operation at Southport | | Thu 13th Aug 2015 | Day of discharge from hospital | | Tue 25th Aug 2015 | First fracture clinic & 2nd X-Ray | | Tue 20th Sep 2015 | Second fracture clinic & 3rd X-Ray | | Tue 29th Sep 2015 | First physiotherapy session | | Tue 20th Oct 2015 | Third fracture clinic & 4th X-Ray | | Tue 20th Oct 2015 | Second physiotherapy session | | Thu 19th Nov 2015 | Third physiotherapy session | | Thu 03rd Dec 2015 | Fourth physiotherapy session | | Tue 15th Dec 2015 | Fourth Fracture Clinic No X-Ray! | | Tue 15th Dec 2015 | Fifth physiotherapy session | | Mon 21st Dec 2015 | First upper limb gym! | | Mon 04th Jan 2016 | Second upper limb gym! | | Mon 25th Jan 2016 | Third upper limb gym | | Mon 22nd Feb 2016 | Fourth gym & physio discharged | | Wed 29th Jun 2016 | Full Pre-Op assessment, Ormskirk | | The 03rd Nov 2016 | Pre-Op swabs taken, Southport | | Mon 07th Nov 2016 | Plate removal operation, Ormskirk | | Thu 10th Nov 2016 | Dressing change, Churchtown | | Thu 17th Nov 2016 | Dressing change, Churchtown | | Tue 22nd Nov 2016 | Fifth fracture clinic, Southport |