When you think of bones that may develop a joint problem, the collarbone is probably the last one you’d think of. However, the long, curved bone “” the only bone in the body that’s classified a long bone and runs horizontally “” may hold the key to many shoulder problems.
Technically known as the clavicle, from the Latin clavicle (or “little key”), the bone links the structure of the shoulder to your sternum. Joint problems can happen at either end of the collar bone, resulting in a popping noise or sensation when you move your arm.
In more serious and painful cases, a damaged joint may lead to frozen shoulder syndrome, a condition that makes the use of your arm difficult or even impossible.
Here’s what’s gone awry in some cases:
Acromio
- What is it: The AC joint is formed by the outer end of the collarbone and the shoulder blade, forming the socket that holds the ball of your upper arm.
- How it’s injured: The complex series of tendons that link the collar bone to your shoulder blade is damaged, most often due to some sort of trauma. As you could imagine, this separation makes the use of your arm, especially raising it, extremely painful. There may be associated swelling, and you’d likely see a change in the outward appearance of the bone. In most cases, the shoulder is visible slumped.
- How to fix an injury: While separations of lesser degrees may be treated by wearing a sling and letting the joint heal, more serious cases may involve surgery to reconstruct the damaged ligaments and the insertion of pins or plates to stabilize the joint.
- Possible consequences: Left untreated, an AC separation may develop into a frozen shoulder, in which the structure becomes encapsulated in a capsule of connective tissue as the body tries to heal itself.
Sternoclavicular (SC) joint separation
- What is it: The SC joint connects your shoulder, through the collar bone, to the sternum. Only a small part of the joint actually connects the collar bone to the sternum. The real strength of the joint is provided by extra ligaments that form the bond, which is what may be damaged by a SC injury. The result can be the same popping sensation as an acronioclavicular injury, and be just as painful.
- How it’s injured: Like AC injuries, most SC problems are brought on by trauma. Car accidents cause nearly half of all sternoclavicular issues, while sports injuries account for another 20 percent. Most often, those injuries include a dislocation in which the clavicle has been pushed outward by the trauma. The ligaments that protect from an interior dislocation, which could cause damage to internal organs like the lungs and possible throat problems, are extremely strong so an inward dislocation is rare.
- How to fix an injury: Treatment may be as simple as rest or, like the shoulder separation, surgical.
In any case, tell your doctor if you suspect an injury to either joint. It could be the key to sparing yourself a lot of pain and frustration.
