Clavicle Surgery, a Year Later...

[balopez]

I had surgery done on my clavicle in October of last year.  There has not been any complications thus far.  I woke up today with a lump right on the middle of the scar, on top of the plate.  It is painful with certain motions and when I touch the bump.  Could it be nerve complications or a loose screw?  Thanks for any help.

[Dr Vinod]

Hello!

Yes there might be a nerve involvement!

In clavicle fracture rarely an open reduction is required, it is only required when the fracture is associated with neuro- vascular deficit which means when there might be an injury to the blood vessels or a nerve involvement or in some conscious patients where a plate is used to fix the fracture.

You should be careful and I would suggest you to follow up near your surgeon so that you do not have any complication with the healing.

I think you had proper physiotherapy and physical exercise with the pain decreasing?

Take care!

[nanahuckster]

How's the clavical?  I had a plate on my right clavical after I broke it into 3 pieces and it wouldn't heal on it's own.  It developed a lump that I swear was a nerve cause when I touched it, pain shot down my arm.  It drove me crazy, it would shoot pain if I turned my head just right.  I had the plate removed after it was in for about 18 months.  I told the doc to be careful of the nerve when he cut me.  He said he never saw a nerve there but all I know is having that plate taken out felt great!  Right now I'm recovering from an ulnar shortening because of an old distal radius fracture that healed short.  Good luck to you!

[Dr Vinod]

Hello!

You can check with an X-ray if there is some problem with the screw and plate. As it is acute there might be no problem with your bone or soft tissue as it takes time to build up symptoms.

If you have pain then take some pain killers and follow up near your orthopedic surgeon.

Take care!

[dandan1719]

Did you ever find out what the lump was ? I have the same problem I had surgery a year ago and every now and then I seem to have a lump form typically where the break was on top of the plate, this is mainly after reaching up over my head to do things like paint a wall or exercise etc. I done a Zumba class yesterday, I was careful not to over use my arm but that has clearly not worked and today I've woke up in agony I feel like I have re broke my collar bone  it is painful to touch, looks swollen and hurts to move my arm.

I look forward to your response