Clavicle fractures: what is the bump that appears during healing?
The collarbone connects the upper chest to the shoulder. A fall onto the shoulder or a direct impact in play can break it. A child may support the arm with the other hand because lifting the shoulder hurts.
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What should we do after the injury?
Support the arm comfortably and seek assessment that day. The team examines the skin, nerves and blood supply to the hand. X-rays show the site and displacement. A sharp fragment pressing on tight or pale skin at the time of injury is different from the healing bump that forms later.
Will my child need surgery?
Most childhood midshaft clavicle fractures heal with a sling supporting the arm. Decisions about surgery depend on age, the site and pattern of the break, the skin and the nerves and blood vessels. Ask how to fit the sling and when your child can stop using it.
Why does a lump form?
A firm lump can form as new bone bridges the fracture. It often becomes less prominent as the child grows. Improving comfort and arm use are useful observations at follow-up. Increasing pain or a change in the overlying skin deserves reassessment.
When can sport restart?
Comfort and recovery of shoulder movement help guide return. Contact sports or activities with a risk of falling may need to wait beyond the time the sling comes off. Ask for a plan specific to the injury.