DIAGNOSING AND TREATING CLAVICLE INJURIES

The most common injuries to the clavicle and its associated articulati ons are acromioclavicular and sternoclavicular dislocations, clavicle fractures, and osteolysis and degeneration of the clavicle. Physicians need to be familiar with the anatomy of the region and the most commo n mechanisms of injury to be able to expediently diagnose and treat su ch injuries. Diagnosis is often straightforward, and conservative meas ures such as a figure-of-eight harness, icing, and nonsteroidal anti-i nflammatory drugs usually produce satisfactory results.