Primary prevention
There is no proven strategy for preventing clavicle fracture. Almost all clavicle fractures occur as the result of accidental trauma, so theoretically, preventing these accidents (falls, motor vehicle accidents, cycling accidents, sports injuries) with measures such as appropriate equipment, training, and safety devices would decrease the incidence of clavicle fracture. However, strategies to decrease the risk of these accidents are not specifically designed to reduce incidence of clavicle fracture but rather to decrease the risk of all-cause morbidity/injury/mortality.
Treatment and prevention of osteoporosis would be expected to reduce fracture risk in general, as well as risk of clavicle fracture.[19] A falls prevention programme may be appropriate in older people.
Secondary prevention
As clavicle fractures are almost always acute events, there is virtually no opportunity for secondary prevention. For pathological fracture involving the clavicle (e.g., due to metabolic bone disease, tumour) or stress fracture, if a patient presents with gradually worsening soreness at the clavicle, prompt clinical examination and appropriate imaging might identify a bone lesion before fracture completion occurs. However, not all patients experience symptoms prior to pathological fracture.
Smoking has been associated with an increased risk for symptomatic non-union of displaced midshaft clavicle fracture in patients treated non-operatively.[35][83] Therefore, assess the patient’s smoking status and offer smoking cessation counselling as appropriate. An early operative approach might be considered in these patients.[83]
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