Fractured clavicle in the newborn
Toggle: English / Spanish
A fractured clavicle in the newborn is a broken collar bone in a baby that was just delivered.
Fractured collar bone - newborn; Broken collar bone - newborn
A fracture of a newborn's collar bone (clavicle) can occur during a difficult vaginal delivery.
The baby will not move the painful, injured arm. Instead, the baby will hold it still against the side of the body. Lifting the baby under the arms causes the child pain. Sometimes, the fracture can be felt with the fingers, but the problem often can't be seen or felt.
Within a few weeks, a hard lump may develop where the bone is healing. This lump may be the only sign that the newborn had a broken collar bone.
Exams and Tests
A chest x-ray will show whether or not there is a broken bone.
Generally, there is no treatment other than lifting the child gently to prevent discomfort. Occasionally, the arm on the affected side may be immobilized, most often by simply pinning the sleeve to the clothes.
Full recovery occurs without treatment.
Most often, there are no complications. Because infants heal well, it may be impossible (even by x-ray) to tell that a fracture occurred.
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Call for an appointment with your health care provider if your baby acts uncomfortable when you lift him or her.
Carol WA. Delivery room emergencies. In: Kliegman RM, Stanton BF, St. Geme JW III, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 20th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 100.
White KK, Goldberg MJ. Common neonatal orthopedic ailments. In: Gleason CA, Devaskar SU, eds. Avery's Diseases of the Newborn. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2012:chap 96.
- Last reviewed on 7/10/2015
- Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- 2013 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.