I am in almost the exact same situation. Although it has only been 9 months after surgery. I'm having a checkup in 3 months to see how the well the bone has healed.

Curious if anyone has gotten their plate removed.

I had the hardware removed from my collarbone and, for me, it was a very good decision. I had constant pain from the hardware and I remember waking up from surgery and immediately feeling relief. Recovery was a breeze - wore a sling for ~ 3 days, was on the trainer approx 7 says after surgery and running 2 weeks after (swim was a different story as I had to wait for my incision to heal before getting in the water).

I've broken both collarbones. One from Jockey, one Motorcycle racing. Both times they broke in 2 places. Didn't even know hardware was an option at the time (happened a number of years ago). Had my arm in a sling and a wrap which held my arm in place. At night I slept on my good side with my bad arm sort of behind me. First few days took decent pain killers, then OTC pain killers, then nothing. In about 10 days things had started to mend and pain was limited but it still took awhile for them to heal enough that I could go back and do what I had been doing before.

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BC Don
Pain is temporary, not giving it your all lasts all Winter.

I broke my collarbone in February of 2011 and had a plate installed about a month later.

I had a very quick rehab with getting in the water pretty quickly after surgery. No rehab specifically, but swimming got my range of motion back to 100% very quickly. I haven't had a single issue since the surgery until yesterday. I started feeling some pain in the outer area of the plate, but in the pool it went away. Today I feel fine.

I remember speaking to my surgeon, who came very highly recommended and I feel did an excellent job, and he said at some point the plate would likely have to come out. I also heard the same thing from another family friend, who has great experience as an Orthopedic surgeon. He told me that with people that are especially active, the chance of the screws coming loose is much higher.

I will keep my plate in until it causes issues. If it becomes painful, I'll have it taken out. But until that point, I will avoid having surgery at all cost.

I do think that this is a subject that you should be seeking expert opinions on though.

jake

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Get outside!

Me too

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Ironman Certified Coach

Currently accepting limited number of new athletes

Thanks for the anecdote. I've had nothing but problems with my plate. I regret getting this surgery, but I think it helped. I cannot tell you how much I wish that I could go back and not have taken the bike ride that caused this. And I cannot tell you how scared I am of this operation. Not looking forward to it.

Broke my right collarbone (and a host of other injuries) in a high speed motorcycle accident, had a plate and screws inserted as it was a complete break in the middle and ends overlapping by about 2 inches which made leaving it to heal naturally not an option. Plate was literally a pain as when the bone reknitted, the screws holding it in place protruded out the other side of the bone by about 1/2 inch causing tearing and brusing to the tissue around it. Once I got the all clear from the osteo surgeon about 6 months later, got the thing and troublesome screws taken out.
Only real issue is that you're recovering from 2 surgeries as opposed to 1, in my case 3 as midway through the healing process I happened to drop a large metal toolbox on my collarbone snapping the thing again and putting a 45 degree bend in the plate requiring replacement.
Your osteo surgeon will advise based on how well the bone has healed whether its advised to remove the plate, if you can why wouldn't you.

I had the plate removed from my broken collarbone and I'm very glad I did. Though it didn't cause pain, it felt and looked strange, and I could feel the heads of the screws through my skin. In other words, I was constantly reminded the plate was there. After removal, I was back to normal.

Curious, when you say that you could feel the screws, do you mean that they weren't counter sunk into the plate?

I can see the counter sunk holes and feel them, but they don't stick out.

jake

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Get outside!

My broken collarbone was in 1997, so perhaps the ortho hardware was different then. I recall the screw holes were countersunk, but I distinctly remember feeling four bulges from the screw heads.

Yeah, my surgeon is fine with removing it. I'm scheduled to go under the knife next week.

I also have screws protruding so much that they tent my skin a little bit. Really unhappy times here.

Plate and six screws in left clavicle since 2006, hasn't bothered me since. The surgeon who did the procedure said that unless I had issues such as chronic pain or inflamed tissue there was no need to take it out. Even though I stopped racing tri's a year after getting the plate, I have remained very active since and have not been hindered by having it.

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"You can never win or lose if you don't run the race." - Richard Butler

I had a plate and 4 screws on my broken clavicle for 9 months. I don't like any foreign objects in my body and I get a weird sensation when trying to scratch an itch on my shoulder.

I have had it removed and am happy with the decision.

I hear ya. I don't have a plate but the not so clean break is still not getting together after 8 months now. I have probably stalled the healing process on a few occasions (some stupid decisions, some just life) and it's hard not to beat oneself up about it. Sports doc has referred me to a surgeon. I hope the bones get together before the appointment (probably 2 months yet). Either way, it's looking like I'll loose a second racing season. I guess I wouldn't mind if I knew the thing was going to heal properly at all. Kinda in a funk just now, not too enthusiastic about training, even with things that don't bother my shoulder. I hope everything turns out for you.

I broke my collarbone in a bunch of places late March this year, and had a plate, screws and 'hook' inserted to stabilise the joint. I broke the bone from impact on the scapula right near the join on the tip of my shoulder.
From the start the plate, and in particlular the hook, gave me ongoing soreness and irritation.
I had the plate taken on on the 13th of November. Much better. I plan on returning to swimming in the next week. There is some soreness from the removal of what was a large and interesting appliance in my shoulder, but the soreness it caused almost immediately left me. The second incision, along the line of the first has closed, but I want to be sure before I return to swimming.
I am happy to have had the plate as the collarbone would not have healed without it - there were multiple breaks and due to the location it would not have latched onto the other bony sections, but after a few months with it I knew it had to go.

I'm right there with you in the funk department. It's really difficult to do anything with a broken clavicle. And when it's slow healing it just nags you 100% if the time.

I started randonneuring and just doing ridiculously long rides so that I could get exercise without the impact of running or the shoulder intensity of swimming. It's been difficult.

My coach had his removed since he'd bump it and that would cause intense pain. He had no issues after and is back racing (bikes).

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clm
Nashville, TN
https://twitter.com/ironclm | http://ironclm.typepad.com

The bone is healed. You will always be able to tell by x-ray where a bone was broken because when a bone breaks and heals it leaves a sort of callous around and through the break - reinforcing material. In a way, the bone is stronger than before sort of.



Id recommend getting the plate removed, especially since there is little muscle on top of the bone (presuming the plate is on top) , there is increased friction on the skin. Plates deep inside the body are less of an issue.


If it is causing soreness, even more reason to get it removed.

At 1.5 years, my bone is between stage 4 and 5 on your chart. It's really taking forever to heal. I'm pretty concerned about the screw holes filling in quickly.

Does anyone know if bone paste is worth using? My surgeon doesn't typically use it.

May 2010 bike crash. Plate and 7 screws. Only discomfort is rubbing from say, a back pack worn for extended periods. No problems moving through detectors in airports.

I presume removal is full anestesia? If so, I don't need to roll the dice on someone having a bad day at the hospital. Other thoughts?

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Such a Bad Runner

Lol, yeah it's full anesthesia! If you had to ask that, your pain tolerance is different from mine.

You can only detect the plate with a wand detector. I carry a doctor's note just in case. I'd bet it also shows up on the body scanner because those are geared to soft scatter, but I never bothered to see.

I've had my plate for about 3 years now. I wrecked (again) a couple months after having it done and it knocked it around... making it look fairly gruesome even now. It aches sometimes when it's cold (or, oddly, when I wear a knit long sleeve) and I had planned to have it removed almost from day1. Now I kind of look at it as a reminder that I'm not invincible and sometimes it's better to ease off a little bit instead of fighting for that inside corner in a Crash5.

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My Blog - http://leegoocrap.blogspot.com

I smashed my collar bone into 8 pieces in a road race 2 weeks after my second daughter was born. Doc said he was putting in a plate. That was 11 years ago so I don't remember the timing but the screws started to back out. By then the plate had done its job so the doctor took the plate out. I haven't missed it one bit.

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blog
twitter

I kept my plate and screws. It's been 3-4 years. I don't have tattoos, so it's like a cool badge of honor - you can see screws through thin skin. Nothing moved though, screws are still good.

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Damn, that's a cold ass honkey.

I broke my clavicle in the fall of 2004. The Ti plate and 8 screws are still in there and not causing any issues. A couple years back I was feeling a bit of irritation of the skin directly over the plate and when I had it checked out, my doc told me to wait and see if it was just some general inflammation. Waited a bit and everything is fine now.

I think the only way it would come out at this point (8 years later) is if it started causing me serious issues. For the first couple of years it REALLY hurt if accidentally "bumped" on the skin directly over the plate...which with little kids around the house was fairly often. Ouch. Now though, it's not anywhere near as sensitive.

Yeah, if it was clear stuff was loose, I'd probably ask for it to be removed as well. The only reason the plate was put in there in the first place was because my break was so messed up (3 pieces, one turned sideways, overlapping ends, etc.)

Just thought I'd share...

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http://bikeblather.blogspot.com/

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Civilize the mind, but make savage the body.

- Chinese proverb

Thanks for sharing, guys. I guess I'll update this as well....after my surgery.

Broke mine in a bike crash 8 months ago. Had surgery for Ti plate and 7 screws 10 days after. Loose butterfly fragment made a natural healing a no-go. I was back on the bike outdoors after a couple of weeks and racing after 6.

For the slender builds us athletes typically, have it's normal for the plate to be visible through the skin. I can see mine, feel each screw, and feel the bone over-build at both fracture locations. It doesn't bother me most of the time, but I do get the occasional seatbelt rub, or rub from a shoulder bag.

At this point I plan to have the plate out next fall (total of 18 months post surgery). My only concern is the nerve damage associated with the surgery. I lost a lot of feeling in the skin surrounding the incision from the first surgery. You learn to live with it, but it's a little freaky. Curious what the second incision will do for any long-term healing in the area.

I broke my collar bone in September of 2011. I got plated up 5 days after my accident and managed to be back on my bike about a week after surgery (may not be recommended). The doctor said that I could pretty much do what I wanted except fall off my bike again since now the weakest link was the 10 screws and titanium plate. I was out of my sling in about 2 days post surgery and worked hard to regain my mobility. All went well and I actually completed a 70.3 two months after my fall with a not too bad of a swim :)

Now, I got my plate and screws removed last Friday (3days ago). I am feeling pretty good but this surgeon, (long story short, I was away in Australia for a year when I broke my collar bone and had my surgery, I am now back at home in Canada) wants me in a sling for 2 weeks :S... I didn't challenge him on this and I'm not sure if it's because he feels the bone is now weak due to the holes left by the screws and needs time solidify or just so the incision heals well. Thought any one ? All I know is that if I am really stuck in this sling for 2 weeks I might go crazy !!!

The nerve damage scares me because its pretty miserable. It constantly nags at you. . I am also very concerned about having nerve damage.

I don't know why you need to be in a sling for so long but you're exactly correct in that the reason you need to decrease your usage of your arm is because your collarbone is extremely weak with all those holes in it. . It's okay after you have the initial surgery and the plates and screws put into your arm to then return to exercise activities very quickly. . After the plate and screws are put in the real danger is just having cracks around those areas are having them fall out. I personally think that my body rejected the screws and refuses to heal until they're taken out. But I'm definitely planning on having between four and six months of mental activity in order to allow for full healing to occur. . I really haven't done much with my shoulder since I had surgery one half years ago and I haven't had a problem with losing any range of motion or frozen shoulder or anything like that. But it can happen and it's terrible if it actually does happen to do everything you can to avoid it without increasing your injury.

I have an additional problem that I need help with which is that I'm resistant to pain killers. After my first collarbone surgery I was given Percocet. When that didn't work I was ultimately put on a very high dosage of the dilauded both an oral and intravenous form Until I was released from hospital. I didn't like the Dilaudid and stopped taking it after about three days because it made me feel like I'm suffocating.

Can anyone recommend some pain management solutions that I can recommend to or discuss with the physicians for the surgery?

The initial pain related to getting the plate and screws out was not as bad as having them put in (at least in my case). I vaguely remember waking up in the recovery room after my first surgery screaming in pain and this time around for the removal there was almost no pain even though the surgeon had a hard time taking some of the screws out because he said the screws that were used to affix the plate were not all the same and he didn't have the proper tool to take some of them out, he actually had to break the head off of one and just left it in the bone. Anyways, I was prescribe Tynlenol #3 (acetaminophen and codeine) but I hardly took any after the first day, I just took some regular Advil (Ibiprofen) and now 5 days after surgery I am completely off medication.

Interesting. The ortho surgeon who did my plate from a 2010 break put the plate under the collarbone with the screws pointing upwards. I think that I can feel one of the 7 screws, but that's it. My break was pretty far outboard on the collarbone.

Form me coming out was a breeze compared to going in. I would take them out without hesitation.

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Trek Madone 5.9SL
Felt B12 (sold)

I cannot tell you guys how great it is to hear that it's better coming out. Holy crapola it hurt going in!

I have to be at the hospital at 530am tomorrow and my car battery is dead. Just another day in the life.

The above is probably the most sketchy thing I've ever written.

So far, having the plate taken out of my shoulder has been phenomenally good. I never really needed much in the way of pain killers. This is so much better than having the plate put in!

Good to hear, are you able to do any basic ROM exercises just yet?

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"You can never win or lose if you don't run the race." - Richard Butler

I'm not even in a sling. But obviously I have to wait for the wounds to heal--externally and internally.

Glad to hear you're doing well. My experience was exactly like yours. Surgery and recovery when the plate went in was awful and I was terrified about surgery/recovery when it came out. It ended up being so easy and pain-free it was almost a non-event.

I hope that continues to be true for you too.

Same here. Other than dealing with the stitches and PRE-surgery anxiety, it was a non-event.

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Trek Madone 5.9SL
Felt B12 (sold)

Having the hardware removed is flat out awesome. I already am feeling better! I'm pretty sure that there was minimal nerve damage. I feel like I can do anything again! Obviously I'm resting and letting it heal properly, but I just wanted to let people know how it went.

I wouldn't call the surgery super easy. I was under for 45 minutes. But the comparison between hardware in and out is dramatic. Going in: horrible regretful, miserable pain that wasn't relieved by anything. Out: a couple Motrin felt excessive. I am extremely surprised.

Hi Sam,

Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but I would love an update on your status. I hope your clavicle held up strong after plate removal and you are still doing great. I had a plate installed on my clavicle 3 months ago and I plan to have it removed later this year so I would love to hear the long term results of the procedure. The plate and screws I have seem to be causing a fair deal of problems already which is probably a result of my thinner body frame and I cannot wait to take the hardware out!

Thanks,

Brad

When they break out the hook you know you really f*cked it up.

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Brian Stover USAT LII
Accelerate3 Coaching
Insta

you were a jock? okay, i must know. what's more extreme. what's the bigger adrenalin rush? aboard a horse or aboard a motorcycle? so far, i actually think it's the horse. because you have to contend with what the horse decides it might want to do. but, you are more the expert. so, which is it?

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Dan Empfield
aka Slowman

Damn spellcheck, not "Jockey" but ""Hockey". Way too fat to be a Jockey. Although I've ridden horses, never at the intensity of a race, just your usual trail ride and an occasional gallop. And while a horse can make its own decisions, a tank slapper can be pretty exciting when it happens - especially your first.

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BC Don
Pain is temporary, not giving it your all lasts all Winter.

Anyone who had their plate taken out a long time ago that can chime in on here? I am wondering the long term prognosis as I will be having this operation in the fall this year.

I'm wondering what kind of issues it resolved as well. I appear to be having nerve related issues 3 months post op (some burning pain still and odd sensations). Most people report numbness which I have but that doesn't bother me... It's the ultra sensitivity around the site that even clothing aggravates and the come-and-go nerve pain associated with it. I am thinking it is related to the hardware and how it affects the soft tissue. The edge of my plate closest to my chest sticks up quite a bit and there isn't much skin covering it at all. It appears bruised sometimes too.

I still feel tenderness on the bones but I feel so much better (as recited above). Get it done and don't look back. However, I will say that I waited miserable months until my bones were definitely fused and healing before removing my plate. My surgeon claims that he tried to test it when I was out and it was solid. I'm not sure that was a good thing or not, but I haven't really had many problems since taking it out other than minor pain when I wear a backpack or something along those lines. I still would not want to sling a messenger bag over my shoulder. But I'm pretty sure it could take it, I'm just scared about it.

Thanks, Sam. I know you said that some of your screws had pulled out of the bone which I am assuming must have contributed to your discomfort. I just had a CT scan and my plate and screws are all in tact but I am still quite bothered by it. The scan revealed that the bone has united but my doctor wants to wait 9 months before removing it. I am edging in on 4 months post op and part of me wants to tell him to yank it out now but I suppose that isn't that best idea. I just want my shoulder to feel normal again.

I had a nasty break last year. Went to a large hospital in Boston for plate placement. New technique where the plate is placed on top of clavicle not on the front. I feel fantastic. Full range of motion, no pain whatsoever. No plans on removing. If I start to pull screws then I'll do it but all is well right now.
The surgeon told me he has never had anyone come back to have one removed as of yet. I would imagine that my clavicle is stronger with the plate on anyway

That's great to hear the plate doesn't bother you. I think a lot of it comes down to your frame. Some people have curvy collar bones other people have straight ones. My plate is placed on the top as well. The far end is wrapped up in muscle nicely and doesn't cause much pain or irritation, but the end closest to my chest has very little skin covering it so it protrudes a lot and gets easily irritated even by clothing. Unfortunately it's not exactly a spot I can just gain weight in to mask the problem. My surgeon did warn me before doing surgery that I would likely want the plate taken out because I'm thin and I think he was on the money. Now I just need to try to ignore it for the summer.

Had mine removed after 9 weeks due to an infection of the bone from the hardware. The bone was healed enough that they decided to leave it out. Can't tell you how glad I am that it's out. I have a lean frame and it was very obvious under my skin, so I'm sure I'd be having issues with it still if left in.

How did they know there was an infection of the bone? I can't imagine that showing up on an x ray. I've had my plate for much more than 9 weeks but I'm scared of the bone just crumbling if the hardware is taken out. Did the bone stay perfectly aligned after removal? I wonder how it could even heal with an infection present.

Long story short, the incision was not healing like it normally should and it kept draining this yellowish fluid until it finally opened up, exposing the bone and metal. At that point they have to assume infection b/c of the bacteria that lives on our skin invading the wound. Since the plate is attached to bone, and the plate was exposed to the world, they assume the bone is infected. No x-ray can detect infection, only a culture or obvious signs can. They never actually cultured anything, but the signs/symptoms all pointed to infection. The ortho specialist I was sent to for removing the plate had an opinion that it was most likely the tightrope wire used to pull my clavicle back down to it's natural position that had bacteria on it, causing the infection. It has a fiber-like surface which is perfect for one single bacteria to start growing in.

The bone did very well after removal of the plate. Possibly b/c I eat pretty well and boosted my calcium & vitamin intake a lot after surgery (I ended up having 5 surgeries). There were holes in the bone left from the removal of the screws and the Dr. would not let me ride until he gave clearance, I'm assuming until they filled in. It took about 8 weeks for this. My original ortho Dr said that the infection possibly slowed the healing process, but as of yesterday it looks great, bone and skin - considering at one point I could look at my shoulder and see metal and bone, like the Terminator...

That's great to hear that you are doing well now. Having the hardware removed that early was actually quite risky. It's a good thing your bones heal quick.

I also had some complications with my surgery back in February. There was a red bump at one end of the incision and the doctor thought it was infection so he opened me back up 2 weeks later and cleaned everything out. When I woke up he said the bone and metal looks good and it can stay in place to help the bone heal in proper alignment. I assume it was a superficial skin infection or complications with the sutures perhaps. At any rate, I am almost 4 months post op from the original plating surgery and everything is healed up albeit with a gnarly scar. The second surgery was in emergency on a Saturday night and when I took the bandage off I would tell the surgeon rushed the closure. I had regular stitches as opposed to the subcuticular ones with steri strips that were used in the initial operation. I briefly recall him saying that he wasn't going to worry about scar revision during the second operation since he was confident a third one would be required to remove the hardware. It looks like he was on the money because here I am wanting to have it taken out as soon as possible.

Sounds very similar to mine situation of being opened back up 2 weeks after initial surgery. I swear I have memory loss after anesthesia in 5 surgeries in 2 months...

Wow, I can't imagine. The 2 I had in a 2 week span really made me cloudy for a while. Combined with the antibiotics and a painful, rebuilt shoulder I was just peachy for a couple of months.

How did your incision end up at the end of it all then? Were they able to clean up the dead tissue and close it up well or were you left with a wide scar to heal?

I had the plate installed last year, iirc, on July 3. It is coming out in 2 weeks. I guess I'll find out rather soon how things go!
And as to the hypersensitivity, I had that, too, between the border of the area the regions that were numb and that still had sensation. It went away after about 1.5-2 months, but clothing, seat belts, etc, anything that touched that area, made it feel like I had been burned. I tried lidocaine cream, but that did not help. I was actually told to touch those areas in order to desensitize, because if I kept avoiding any contact, I could potentially make the hypersensitivity worse. As aggravating as it was at first, that seemed to help in the long term.
I'll let you know in a few weeks how things are going without the plate!

Incision looks pretty good, probably b/c I had one of the best plastic surgeons in the area close it up. He used some special tools to loosen up the skin so he could pull the edges together without it being too tight. It feels a little taut in that area, but he said it would stretch with time. Also, there's a lot of adhesion that my ortho Dr. has me massage to loosen. I make sure to keep zinc oxide on the scar during rides/runs/swims outdoors now, per the plastic surgeon. I also have some subcutaneous stitches I can still feel. Some have actually broke the skin and I had to "snip" them. I'd post pics if it were easy to do on this forum.

Amazing what a good surgeon can do nowadays. I am thinking about paying for a plastic surgeon to close the incision when I get the hardware removed later this year. I'm afraid of offending the ortho surgeon though, haha. How did you go about requesting that?

Good to know it sounds normal. Definitely keep us up to date on the removal for you!

Actually it was my ortho that said if he couldn't close it up after debriding tissue, he would call in a good plastics guy he uses. My ortho is the director of trauma surgery at Harris Methodist Fort Worth, so he deals with a lot nastier, complicated trauma cases than mine. I'd just ask ahead of time how well the close up job will look. I didn't mind the scar, ladies like them ;-)

Haha, you're right. My girlfriend rubs her finger along mine all the time. It's weird because I can't feel it at all.

My desire for a scar revision is more than vanity though. I can see and feel the amount of scar tissue that has built up and I believe it is affecting my ROM. This kind of pisses me off having heard the surgeon say he wasn't going to worry about it for now since hardware removal is in the future. Oh, so let's just leave things a mess for a year since we have to come back to it anyway right? It's not like this is a human body we are dealing with.

I had a bad break that resulted in a collarbone fixation about seven years ago. The doctor said that I'd probably want the plate removed because I have a small frame, and the plate was very apparent under the skin. Two years later, I felt the screws moving around and the doctor recommended removing the plate at that time. But a CT revealed that the bone never healed (thus the screws had nothing to grab and pushed out). He installed a larger plate with more screws and also used a "bone glue" with cadaver bone to improve the chances of a union. It did heal, but the plate was more uncomfortable than the first. Five years later, after not being able to sleep on that side, bone spurs from the longer screws, and general discomfort, I had the plate removed. I am so glad I did it, aesthetics aside (ugly scarring from three incisions). For the first time in seven years I can sleep on that side without the plate grinding into my joint, and I don't "feel" it on rainy or cold days.

Sounds like you went down quite a long road there, TSEd. Glad to hear everything worked out in the end and the bone did unite.

I am curious as to why you waited five years to remove the second plate if it was bothering you that much. I also still can't sleep on my operated side for too long without it getting sore. Sometimes I roll onto that side but I get woken up in the middle of the night because of it. My biggest problem with the hardware is the irritation that it causes though. After a good workout I will notice that my skin becomes red and inflamed at the edge of the plate because of the rubbing of the skin against metal. It is usually gone by the next morning or after I ice it down.

had a plate installed to hold my femer together while it heald. worst break you possibly have.
no reason to remove and no reason for another surgery. so there she sits after 5 years no issues and i run bike swim live just fine

All that strong muscle on your thighs must hide and pad the hardware really well. Unfortunately my clavicle only has a thin layer of skin covering it.

Hey, thought I'd post an update... I had the plate removed just over a week ago, on Wed.

As far as pain... I took oxycodone the night of the surgery and the following night. Otherwise, I just took acetaminophen and ibuprofen -- I just don't like the side effects of narcotic pain meds, and plus I had to be back at school to give a presentation, and being "fully alert" for that was a good thing. :) Also, I tried to phase out ibuprofen quickly as that has been shown to delay bone healing. I wore a cryo-pump as much as possible for the first 36 hrs, and then all night for the next 2 nights.

As far as activity... No lifting or weight bearing on that arm for another 3 wks. No running restrictions. I did a short run ~20 hours after surgery, with a sling. Another short run the following morning, again with sling. And then a 3.5 hr trail run the day after that, still with sling. I had some raw spots from the sling after that run, so I ditched the sling during the next day's 2 hr run. I was pretty surprised how little running bothered my clavicle -- the surgeon gave me the ok to run right away, but he thought I wouldn't want to run for the first few days. ;) I will say that when I biked on the trainer 5 days post-op, I managed to weight my arm way too much (while wearing the sling!), and it hurt! I've cut out any pain management at this point, and while I get some bone pain, I think it's good for me to remember to not overuse that arm!

My first recheck is next week. I assume all will look ok. I'm happy thus far with the procedure.

Thanks for the update, knova. It's great to hear the operation went well and you got back to running so quickly. I'm surprised to hear it only took you 20 hours post op to start running. I have been under the impression that sweating with such a fresh incision could be bad but maybe that's not true since your doctor said it was fine for you to be that active.

So what are the main differences you notice this early? I know you say there is a bit of soreness from the removal which is normal. Do you feel any type of relief or weight lifted off? How about the nerves (numbness,sensitivity,tingling etc.)? Has that gone back to square one or kind of stayed the same?

Broke my collarbone 3 places close to each other. had a plate inserted and kept it for about 1.5-2.0 years until i decided to have it removed. Mine was places on the middle part and didnt have any ligaments torn, luckily, on either the should girdle or near the breast-bone.
In light of the risc of crashing on my roadbike, tri og mountainbike in the future, and having the risc of tearing appart my ligaments, as the strongest part of the collarbone is now the reinforced part, i decided to have it removed.

I havent had any trouble and have full range of motion. Have gotten som very tight fascia's around my left side-neck and pectoralis, which is being adressed..
Other than that, is that i lost my sense of touch on the superficial skin from the collarbone and down on the upper part of pectoralis and the anterior deltpoideus.. but no mucsle inhibition or anything like that.. only skin


Im glad i had it removed

Sweating was also my main concern. Even my equine surgeon colleagues were concerned about sweating and potential infection & scarring when I admitted my plan to run immediately after surgery... Although, they did say I'm probably much more clean than their 4-legged patients and might be ok. ;) So, I specifically asked my surgeon about risks of the incision being wet and if we could use a breathable dressing, like covaderm, instead of tegaderm. But, he said it would be fine if the incision and dressing was sweaty. I'm not sure, however, if he realized how much I intended to run. The tegaderm+gauze dressing was to come off 3 days post-op, and when I took it off after my long run on Sat, I could wring the sweat out of the gauze. A slight "ewww" factor. My incision site doesn't look as smooth this time -- whether that is related to the sweating or not, I do not know.

So far, I still have soreness from the incision and some bone pain -- similar to the ache that I had about 6-8 wks post-op from the first surgery. The surgeon said that they would smooth the bone, as there would be some bone spurs around the screw holes. That, combined with the now empty screw holes that need to fill in, I'm not surprised that I have some bone pain. The numbness is pretty much the same, but I did not get the hyper-sensitivity that I had for one month after the first surgery. I don't think the numbness will ever change because those nerves were severed in the first surgery.

The difference, so far, is that I don't notice the pressure sensitivity that I had with the plate. That being said, the incision site is sore, and this makes distinguishing the previous plate pain vs incision pain hard. Shrugging my shoulders or raising my arm above my head causes some pain. I still have to run with a pad (i.e., a thick mitten) under my sports bra strap like I've done since the first surgery, and I suspect I'll have to do for a few wks yet. I think all of this will improve in the next few wks as the area heals.

Are you posting the extra oxycodone in the classifieds? I broke mine several years ago on a mountain bike, plate and 12 screws. Everything held well, and I saw no reason to have the plate removed. I figure it's built in protection for my next crash, and is like the tattoo I never had.

---

Damn, that's a cold ass honkey.

Best way to remove the screws from your collarbone? Crash several times on the shoulder in the Tour de France, then ride around for a few stages with the screws loose.

Sounds like you made the right decision so far and things are moving a lot quicker than the first time around. It is definitely too soon to tell what the final outcome will be. I would say give yourself a month or two before you start feeling 100% again. Make sure you go easy on it while those screw holes fill in though!

Ha, while I am a grad student and could use the extra income... alas, the unused oxycodone won't make its way to the ST classifieds. ;)
I had mine removed because there was discomfort with any pressure over that region. Otherwise, it probably would've stayed.

Surprisingly, the surgeon said I can be back to full lifting 4 wks post-op... push ups, pull ups, etc. After the first surgery, I had to wait 12 wks. But only 4 wks this time! I'm trying to be good in the mean time. :)

I had a surgeon say to me ... if you fell on this shoulder, the plate and screws would hold. But you could break something in another place ... that we 4 weeks after the surgery upon viewing new xrays

---

Such a Bad Runner

The surgeon is right that the plate will hold up as long as the bone is healed. The problem is that it would cause a break either close to the sternum or to the end of the shoulder. These breaks are much more complicated to fix so it results in a more extensive surgery with a longer plate and more screws. This is a big reason some people choose to remove the plate. If it breaks again it will most likely be in the middle.

Wow, that is pretty great news. How many screws did your surgeon use? My plate has 10 screws in it. I am not sure if that affects the recovery from removal or not, but I'd assume the less holes in the bone the better.

I had to take 3 months off of pretty much everything as well. I just had the surgery on March 2nd so I am still getting back into the hang of things. The nerve damage/numbness/pain is still kind of a drag. I am convinced the hardware is pinching or rubbing some things it shouldn't be and causing the symptoms I experience. It's going to be a long few months until I can get it all taken out.

Hope you are doing well, knova. Just checking back in on you and your status on the removal.

I had my 2 wk recheck last week. I commented that there had not been much pain improvement thus far (granted, it wasn't that painful, even immediately post-op.... felt like a bad laceration with occasional bone pain, but it really hadn't improved much), and the PA who saw me commented that I would start to notice big improvements starting around the 3 wk mark. And I would say that in the last few days, I have started noticing less pain (3 wks yesterday). I have even done a couple short runs without something stuffed under the shoulder of my sports bra -- I'm sure this highly pertains to you. ;) I still have the ok to start lifting after next Wed, although I'm a little nervous to test it out!

Great to hear that everything went well with your check up and you are now seeing improvements, knova.
Just remember when you start lifting again to go with low weight high reps for the first while. I am doing dumbbell only workouts so that I can try to even out the strength in both of my arms. Currently my operated side is still weaker but I think that is also because it is my non-dominant side and was weaker even before the injury. Once things balance out a bit more I will go to the bars and other machines.
Once again thanks for your input here. I will be having my plate taken out in the future and you have helped me prepare mentally for this operation.

Hi knova,

How are things? Tip top shape after the removal now?

Thanks for sharing!

Hey,
Yes, doing pretty well now! Although, interestingly, there's still a little more sensitivity in that area -- like if someone grabs my shoulders, I really notice it. However, I haven't done anything about that, so maybe it's something that could be improved. I don't notice issues with the sports bra anymore (of high concern for you, ha!), except when I did my first 100 mile ultra a little over a week ago, I ended up stuffing a winter mitten under my sports bra to pad from that and the running pack strap.
But otherwise, I think I am good to go. I am still much happier having had the plate removed.

Hey there! Thanks for replying. I guess the sensitivity has to do with the superficial skin nerves just taking their time to full regenerate. I have that right now and I am 7 months post op getting the plate put in. It doesn't bug me too much unless I put a heavy strap over it or someone grabs my shoulders. I am hoping it will be less severe once the hardware is out. I am not looking for perfection, just improvement. Thankfully I do not wear a bra! Haha...

Glad to hear you are still very happy with the decision. What are the things that make you much happier having the plate removed? Can you describe the positive differences to me? I am trying to figure out which symptoms of mine are hardware related and which ones will stick around afterwards.

On a side note, now that I am 7 months post op plate installation I am going quite hard. I am back in shape and working out 5 days a week. Much of my routine incorporates 50-60 lb dumbbells already and I am putting on the muscle that I had lost from the surgery. In fact, I think I may be the strongest I have ever been. I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that my muscles are now in the right spot and they are not being crammed in together because of the deformed malunion I had.

I myself just recently had a metal plate put inside of me, due to the fact that I decided to ride out of a moving pickup truck going 40mph with my bmx bike, landing straight on my right clavicle. My collar bone had been broken in three places. The doctor strongly suggested for me to have surgery even though I am only 15, which normally means that when you're young, you heal without any problem. Though, I wanted the plate because I did not wish to have a bump on my right collar bone around that area. Also due to the fact that I wanted to make 100% sure that the bone would heal correctly. My age is during a time period of which growth is a factor, also stunting my growth is one without a doubt! The doctor then told me after my surgery that he had avoided the growth plate, thankfully. I have had the metal plate for 1 month and have felt little to no pain since two days after my surgery had taken place. Honestly, It doesn't feel weird at all to me whatsoever. The only way if I will get the plate removed is if it causes extreme pain, and if the military does not except me with a metal place, which I have already looked into. From what I have read they will accept me as long as it does not cause any issues whatsoever with any about the military. You typically don't see people my age getting a metal plate at all to be honest. Though, what must be done, is what must be done. I have also recovered extravagantly! I can easily do pushups without pain whatsoever, even pull ups without any problems. It just kind of annoys me how I can only do 9 pull ups when I was able to do 19 before. [over hand pull ups] I'll probably never have the plate removed unless absolutely necessary! Good day to all!

Hi knova,

I had a clavicle plate & 8 screws put in 28 months ago and have been having a lot of muscular pain: shoulder, neck and back (I have boulder size knots forming around my scapula on the same side as the plate). So, I am thinking about getting my plate taken out. I am signed up for a couple 70.3 triathlons this summer and am wanting to know how soon after you had the plate removed did you feel comfortable with competing? How soon did you go back to serious training? I am not sure if you have kids, if so - did you have any trouble carrying them & their gear around?

I appreciate you sharing the knowledge gained from your experience, Desarae

Sorry to hear about the pain that you have been having. While I am not an MD, based on my own experience, that widespread pain, for me, has been more related to imbalances in muscular use and scar tissue related to the trauma itself. That being said, regarding your questions, I began running within 20 hours of the surgery -- probably not wise, but the physician team said that I could if I *really* wanted to do so. I did a 3.5 hour trail run 3 days after surgery. The area generally felt sore like a recent laceration feels sore. I did occasionally have bone pain, but most discomfort was from the incision. I was instructed not to lift anything for 4 weeks because the holes from the screw removal are points of weakness. I lifted (pull ups, push ups, dips, etc) exactly 4 weeks post-op without issue. However, I tried to ride my TT bike on the trainer about 1 week post-op, and being in the aero position was a bad idea! (It hurt!) And the last the main tri-associated constraint is swimming. I was instructed not to let the incision site be exposed to lake water until it was healed.
I focused on ultramarathons this summer so I can't give you a direct answer on racing triathlons, but I would guess 5-6 weeks post-op because of swimming and aero position cycling.
This all being said, remember that everyone heals differently! After my first surgery when my clavicle was plated, I read on ST and other sites about typical recovery and return to training. I figured I'd be back to race shape in 8 weeks. But, I wasn't even really training yet by 8 weeks, much less racing. But flipping to the second surgery, I was training very hard (and could have done a running race) within 3 days, and this surprised almost everyone.
Best thing is to talk with your surgeon and be optimistic but be ready to change your plan if need be (just like we have to with triathlon race day plans!). Good luck and best wishes!

I just realized I never replied to your questions.
The overall positive aspect is not having the extreme sensitivity. I do still have some sensitivity. I did a lot of lifting this fall, and I discovered things like front squats bother that area. However, I do not think I could have attempted a front squat with the plate in. Metal is harder than bone, and so anything that compressed the skin against the metal was painful.
I also had noticed cold sensitivity with the plate.
Lastly, I could sense the plate was there whenever I moved my shoulder. I would basically describe it as a constant low-grade "annoyance" and an occasional (albeit frequent) high pain.
I hope this helps some, if you have not already had the hardware removed!

Hey Legend, I have a clavicle issue, wondering if you have a sec to give me some advice.

I have a 6 inch plate with 7 screws... been in for 6 years now, I'm 23.

I want to have it removed but I'm worried about having 7 holes in the bone making it like a honeycomb or swiss cheese.

How large was your clavicle hardware, and have you had followup xrays to show whether the holes have filled in over time yet?

Thanks!

Scott guy, I have a clavicle issue, wondering if you have a sec to give me some advice.

I have a 6 inch plate with 7 screws... been in for 6 years now, I'm 23.

I want to have it removed but I'm worried about having 7 holes in the bone making it like a honeycomb or swiss cheese.

How large was your clavicle hardware, and have you had followup xrays to show whether the holes have filled in over time yet?

Thanks!

Hey Sam, I have a clavicle issue, wondering if you have a sec to give me some advice.

I have a 6 inch plate with 7 screws... been in for 6 years now, I'm 23.

I want to have it removed but I'm worried about having 7 holes in the bone making it like a honeycomb or swiss cheese.

How large was your clavicle hardware, and have you had followup xrays to show whether the holes have filled in over time yet?

Thanks!

The plate that held my clavicle together was approximately 5 inches long and had 6 screws. According to the dr., the healed collarbone is actually stronger than the other one and, yes, the holes are "filled in."

My question is whether or not you can remove the hardware after six years. The bone grows around it and makes removal more complicated.

I am pretty sure it can still be done, but it can possibly be a bit trickier for the surgeon. If the bone has grown around the plate then he will have to remove that too. I've had my plate in for a year now and I asked my surgeon if it's okay to leave it in for another half a year so that I don't have any downtime for this summer. He said it doesn't really matter when I do it, but I think he assumed I wouldn't wait 6 years too.

Most days I am not bothered by the plate. There are other days when it is a pain in the ass though. My shoulder feels very strong and stable, in fact it may be stronger than the non-operated side since I went straight from PT to the gym and put so much of my focus on getting strength back there that I think I built it up stronger than the other side. Sometimes I wake up with a dull tooth ache type pain and it is just sort of a discomfort more than anything. I am looking forward to getting it removed.

9 months after surgery my neighbor decided to have the screws removed from her collar bone. She fell working on her garden and de fractured it. The bone is supposed to be stronger after the break but for some reason hers was not. Now she is having issues with the bone healing properly. She's in her early 40s, fit and very active. The doctors can figure out why her collar bone is not healing.

A buddy of mine is a cat1 racer and is keeping his in. He had the surgery 3 months ago. His doc told hi that if it does not bother him than keep it in. Why risk another surgery.

Good luck with your decision and hope it works out for you.

I've also heard doctors say that leaving hardware in is fine if you're not experiencing problems. But, I've had ortho hardware in my hip and clavicle, and both times it caused discomfort. I was 100% immediately after removing the hardware. So, I'm inclined to recommend removing it.

So um yeah, hi there!

Found this thread while looking for information about removal of pins and plate from collarbones as I have an appointment with the doctors at the hospital tomorrow to discuss this potentially. Heres what happened for me to end up in this predicament.

Was only 15 when I was hit by a Ford Fiesta going 60mph around a blind bend, while doing an orienteering competition with a youth group I was with at the time. Only broke my collarbone, clean break but left a lovely 'bump' on my collarbone. Fast forward two years later, was told that my collarbone hadnt fixed and that I would need a set of mechano in there (my families nickname for the pins and plates) as well as a bone graft from my own collarbone from the bone trying to bridge awkwardly. Had the op.... two years later get hit by a van going 30mph. Thanks to the 'mechano' in my shoulder, I only sustained a greenstick fracture on the end of my collarbone.

SO onto the mechano.... I have seven pins and one plate. Back in my slimmer days you could see 5 out of 7 pins through the skin and it was.... creepy. Nowadays you cant see them as much but you can feel them and they are giving me one hell of a lot of jip. Cold weather has been fortunate in allowing me to win bets on when it will snow (one advantage), though painful as hell. Can't keep anything on my shoulder like a bag as it rubs funny and aches like hell. It also affects the martial arts I am training in, since I cant do much with my right side thanks to the mechano, and i cant do much weightlifting in the gym for the same reason. And it's been in my body for 9 years this year. Has anyone had the op to remove the same amount of pins and plates after that much of a delay of time?

I don't know anyone who has had ortho hardware removed after such a long time. I was under the impression that bone calcifies around the hardware and removal becomes problematic. You need to see an orthopedist, especially if you continue to have pain.

Quick Update:

I am allowed the operation to get the mechano set removed from my shoulder. Even had a phone call to get the surgery done this week. Had to decline and postpone it due to the fact that this idiot here broke her ankle.

So if anyone else is worried about it not being allowed to get it taken out, just give it a shot at the doctors and get a medical opinion.

So did you get the plate removed? How did everything go? Always interested to hear others experience as I am due to have mine taken out in the Fall.

Thanks.

I've yet to get it removed still (ankle still hasnt healed fully yet), but as soon as I find out, I will let you lot know!

Hey dear, pls confirm if you have got removed your plates from colorbone... as i have just get them installed in july month of 2014.

pls guide me if any info is there and also if any precaution should be take place.. on my mail id. naresh.kharol@gmail.com.
my contact no 09982206667.

pls help in this case is am i bit tension that the plats got installed.

Hey all, just a quick update. Getting my pins and plate remove in hopefully 6-8 hours! Sorry for the delay, been busy recovering from a broken ankle and actually getting my next grading in Martial arts (which I passed, woot!). Will be quick to update you after the operation as I have no idea how long I will have to wait in the day surgery. Any complications due to a 9 year join with my machano set, again I shall let you know (let's hope there isn't anyway!)

Catch ya in a few hours guys and girls!

Zhoumei

Hey all (again).

I'm back home from the operation, bit high and sleepy still on the morphine (which turns out I am no longer allergic), so bear with me on this.

There were no complications in the removal of 7 pins and a plate after 9 years. There was some bone removed with the mechano set since it had grown around it. I'm currently in a sling for when it hurts real bad, but have been told to move it in small motions until I see the physiotherapist in 2 weeks. Only downside at the moment is that it itches like hell and that I think (wasn't exactly confirmed) they re-opened my original scar.

Hope this helps anyone considering removal of pins!

Zhoumei

This is the best thread i have found so far....Figured I could add my EXP to it.

Broke my clavicle and had fixation surgery one year ago to the day. (5 inch plate w/ 6 down screws holding it in place and one up screw holding additional bone fragments in place) I will be getting up for surgery in just over 6 hours, so I am going to keep this first post short. Surgery is scheduled at 7 am. I will try to post as soon as I can type somewhat coherently.

One year post-op and my shoulder has a good deal of un-healed nerve damage, a spider web sensation and a small area of numbness, which is way better than right after the surgery and complete numbness.

Currently I can't wear any strap over my left shoulder, even a seat belt is a huge annoyance, but i have a full range of motion. My biggest concern is muscle atrophy, as it took a whole year to get back to where i was.

Sorry to take over this triathlon forum with BB stats but i think its a good indication of shoulder health. Dumbbell press 95 lbs 3x5 Weighted pull-ups 95 lbs 3x3

10:30am, back home already. Damn, that was easy! Not sure if the local is still working or not. I didn't take any of my Hydrocodone, it hurts a lot but totally bearable, nothing like last year where I was tearing from pain.

The worst part is my neck so far. I want to try my best not to eat any drugs, but I might crack later today. Doc didn't say i needed a sling or anything but I sometimes find myself resorting to the sling position, holding on to my clothing for support.

So it is 3:20, I'm pretty sure all the local anesthetic is long gone...Still didn't eat any pain meds...it really sucks but its totally manageable without. Feels like i got karate chopped in the neck. I plan to take one hyrdocodone 10 later tonight, to help with sleeping. The pain is enough that I think it will hinder sleeping.
Haven't been pushing hard at all today but I find myself doing, trying to do a lot of my activities with my treated left side (dominant hand)

Crazy, a year ago i was literally chewing a Percocet 5 every hour or two with little to no relief.

Day 2, no more neck pain, no pain at all really. A bit sore if I shrug my shoulder upwards. Went for a 3 mile walk today. Actually my biggest problem is a sore throat from them putting a breathing tube down there, still hurts a bit to swallow. That hasn't stopped me from stuffing my face!

Yesterday I ended up taking half a 10mg hydrocodone which put me right to sleep. This morning I woke up and had a big bowl of chicken bone broth and a full 10mg hydrocodone (def didn't need it but sleeping another 6 hours was amazing) Im basically done with drugs, thanks for giving me 65 pills though, 10X what anybody would ever need, just in case I want to pull a Michael Jackson.

Its going to be really hard not to push my self this month....I feel great and not being able to run, workout or swim is going to mess with my head.

Day 3, still feeling good. A bit tired today....Just going to couch it up and catch up on some crappy TV. Tomorrow I need to change the dressing, curious to see how everything looks. It seems like a much smaller incision this time around.

Hey HuRang, any update on how you are doing now? I am mostly curious because I have a plate still and I am doing similar workouts to you (75 lb db presses, 225 lb bench press, repping out pull ups). Are you back at these again? I am holding off surgery because I don't want to be out of the gym for so long.

Also, when you say the incision seemed smaller, did they leave some of the old scar there or cut it all out and then make the scar smaller?

Thanks!

Mean to get back on here....we are at week seven now. I am doing everything thing perfectly fine. I started back lifting and swimming on week three. Still, have a decent amount of numberness but its not a huge deal.

Im sleeping on my left side, which is something I haven't done in over a year. Strenghtwise Im not back to where I was pre - removal but I'm getting there.

Week 7, I was doing 185 Lbs incline barbell for reps on Monday. and 45Lbs weighted pulls last week

I dont think I really lost any strenght I just don't want to push too hard...I guess by January I will pretend it never even happened.

Best advice is get a cute girl to ctake care of you while your mending! By day 4, I was really completely fine but she was bending over backwards for me.

If you are lifting with it in, I dont think you have to worry too much about bone strenght, just ease back into everything. I also didnt drink at all for the first three weeks and was eatting a supper clean 4000+ calorie a day diet. Put on about a ten pound 'winter coat' :-)

The surgen cut along the exact same scar but the incision was about half the size....I think he just streched the skin to remove the high and low screws or something. it was basically healed over by week 2. When I saw the doc on week 3 he said no need for PT. Haven't seen him since.

Find a time when you can take 4 days to do nothing but catch up on netflix. And also a time where you can take 3 weeks off from the gym.(i was actually doing light leg presses on day 7) Maybe overtrain right before?!?

Walking, jogging, and hills were a pretty good susitute also.

Ill be snowboarding in a few weeks for sure!!!

Hey, thanks for the info, HuRang. So I know it is still fairly early, but would you say you are currently happy with the decision to remove the plate? Has there been any immediate or short term benefit so far? I mostly want mine removed because the area is very sensitive and the hardware is visible through my skin. Things like backpacks and other straps are pretty uncomfortable.

People whom have plates in, if it doesn't bother you don't get it out...One the other hand, mine sucked!!!I didn't even want to drive due to seat-belt 'friction'. If you are reality healthy, it sounds like no prob for you, recovery isn't too bad this time around. With that said, all the nerve damage which after a year of healing was improving is now back to square one...cobwebs and numbness. But, now i wear a back pack on either side, sleep on either side and generally am not as concerned as before.

Hope that helps a little....

One last comment Brad,
Its basically been two months...just did 95lbs incline dumbbell presses 4x4 which means I'm past where I was with the plate in.

This is some great news. Sounds like you bounced back quickly. From what I am told, it is just a matter of getting the screw holes in the bone to heal and fill in (4-6 weeks).

I am probably having mine taken out in February, which means I hope to be recovered before summer starts.

Any more updates are appreciated.

From everything I've read....

A year after surgery your bone should have completely calcified, if you are lifting that much now, it means its already relatively strong. But since the plate is still in some of the weight, from lifting, is transferred to the plate and the surrounding bone and screws.

Long term this isn't the ideal situation for bone health. In fact this reduced load leads to reduced bone density....Post surgery, holes in your bone prob aren't great either, they do mean that your surgery-side is more susceptible to a break, esp along the bone holes. Still this bone isn't that fragile either. Just easy back into things, listen to your body, eat well....Don't Fall on it!!! (Sometime after a few weeks you WILL be tempted to do some kind of craziness, for me it was a bike ride, week 3 I felt great already but in the end didn't go) You'll be fine well before summer.

Good luck man, let us know how it turns out! And make sure to ask for the plate and screws back, its the least you can get for a year of your life, right?

Hey all, reviving this thread as I had the plate removed from my clavicle yesterday. I still have some hardware in my shoulder as the break was pretty heinous and required some significant fixing, but I'm super happy to have the plate and screws out. It was causing a ton of pain.

My surgeon wasn't super clear on resuming physical activity (beyond walking). I know I can't lift more than 10 lbs until my post-op check-up, but as far as riding and running go - what would you all recommend? Should I wait at least a week with the incision and what not?

Thanks!

Hey,

I would be really careful about riding! If you fall and re-fracture that could endup being a huge deal. I would go for a jog and see how you feel after. Its amazing how much easier recovery was with removal as oppossed to fixation. Anyways, even though you feel fine it doesnt mean your bone isnt full of holes....Keep us updated!

I am in the same position you were. 9 months ago had a plate, 3 screws and a hook inserted to stabilize the clavicle while it healed. The hook has always bothered me but in October got to the point where I had to remove it b/c of constant pain. Tomorrow I go under the knife again to have everything removed. I'm hoping I can resume training in 6-8 weeks, but don't really know what a reasonable time line will be until I talk with the surgeon.

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Barry Dmitruk
2017: Florida 70.3 (done); Mont Tremblant 70.3 & Ironman

I had the hook plate and had it removed after 5 months. It's nothing like having it put in. I took no pain killers after the surgery. The incision stung a little and that was about it. There was more discomfort from that thick bandage they gave me than anything else. The arm was kind of weak for only a day or two but nothing like before. After a day or two it felt normal. Bandage and stitches came out 10 days later and I started running and biking immediately. I could have probably done it sooner but didn't want sweat under the bandage. Started swimming about 5-6 weeks after surgery.

That's encouraging, thanks. Of course I presently have to wait before I start training for another reason as well. I had a second brain surgery Dec 16 and have to remain sedentary until January 28 at minimum. The second surgery seems to be working so I am hoping to resume training early in February.

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Barry Dmitruk
2017: Florida 70.3 (done); Mont Tremblant 70.3 & Ironman

Great news on the second surgery Barry!!

I don't have the hook but have a regular plate, put in July last year. Mostly OK, but there is some discomfort as the plate is right at skin level with no fat over it (as you guys know), so seat belts etc irritate it. Also if I sleep on that side in certain positions it can hurt a bit. I also find it a little painful swimming during the (not sure what you call it), arm recovery phase during flip turns and during backstroke. Also, generally if I try to bring my arm across my chest/body too far, the compression hurts a bit

I'd consider having it removed but going to give it more time to see if those issues resolve.

Thanks!!!!

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Barry Dmitruk
2017: Florida 70.3 (done); Mont Tremblant 70.3 & Ironman

Having the hardware removed from my shoulder was pretty simple. I basically had to wait until the skin closed (two weeks) to swim, but was able to run and ride in a few days. It felt like a punch in the shoulder rather than the excruciating pain of the original surgery. It wasn't too big a deal for me once I got over the surgery drugs and so on. Good luck!

Thanks hopefully mine goes as smooth as yours.

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Barry Dmitruk
2017: Florida 70.3 (done); Mont Tremblant 70.3 & Ironman

Barry, I missed what happened to you mid-summer, but that's a lot of surgeries. Very good to hear that you're working through them.

I still have my hardware from May (mine wasn't so major, I guess!) and it doesn't bug me beyond being a bit of a barometer, which I'm a-okay with. Hope your process is (nearly) painless and you're back to it quick.

---

The question of who is right and who is wrong has seemed to me always too small to be worth a moment's thought, while the question of what is right and what is wrong has seemed all-important.

-Albert J. Nock

Pins, plates, screws and hooks. Things sure have changed since I broke my clavicle playing sand lot football way back in 1961. They cut me open and inserted a silver rod through the marrow. After it healed the doc removed that rod. Never had any problems whatsoever soon after or since. Just a faint scar to remember the operation. I don't recall much discomfort after the bone had healed either. I do remember the excruciating pain when it broke, though.

Thanks Derf appreciate it. Barry

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Barry Dmitruk
2017: Florida 70.3 (done); Mont Tremblant 70.3 & Ironman

Two years ago I broke off the tip of my left clavicle and had a plate and screws put in. Four months ago I started to have pain in that shoulder, the sensation that a tendon or muscle was catching on something. I could not raise my arm above my head to blow out my hair, reach into the fridge, or lift anything remotely heavy with that arm without considerable pain. I saw my fracture surgeon and he injected my AC joint with cortisone with no improvement. He sent me to a sports medicine orthopedist who prescribed a guided cortisone injection into my bicep sheath as the pain had since migrated to my bicep muscle although I still had pain in my AC joint as well. After an MRI that showed nothing significant and 6 weeks of PT--during which I got better, and then worse--I returned to my fracture surgeon who said he thinks the plate should come out, although he can't say for sure that my symptoms will be alleviated. (The end of the plate also sticks out rather gruesomely at the end of my shoulder because I'm skinny--I thought it was the end of my bone!)

The sports ortho thinks I should also have a biceps tenotomy, a procedure where the long head of biceps tendon is released from its attachment in the shoulder joint, allowing it to fall down into the upper arm and out of the shoulder joint. This removes the damaged, inflamed tissue by releasing it from the joint. I'm not so convinced that this is a procedure I want to have, especially because no one is certain that the plate is not the cause of my distress.

My long-winded question is whether anyone has had a similar problem with their plate possibly rubbing on the long head of the biceps tendon, irritating it. My gut tells me to have the plate removed but I'm afraid of going through a second surgery that results in no improvement.

Any comments would be appreciated.

Have the plate removed. It is minimally invasive. Read my comment higher on this page.

And then if you don't get the mobility back look at alternatives. My situation was like yours. The plate was locking the AC joint and I wasn't able to lift the arm over my head, and I had pain especially when rolling over in bed, or getting up from a chair with a high back (pressure on the shoulder). Mobility came back in a week flat after the plate was removed, and all that pain went away. Surgeon's advice was completely wrong. He kept insisting that the symptoms were not caused by the plate. That I needed more PT. And some sort of nerve test BS. I did my own research instead and opted to remove the plate.

>The sports ortho thinks I should also have a biceps tenotomy, a procedure where the long head of biceps tendon is released from its attachment in the shoulder joint, allowing it to fall down into the upper arm and out of the shoulder joint.

If it were me I'd try everything else before attempting something like that.

Hi I know it is a hard decision between surgery and non surgery. For me the pain pre-surgery was pretty intense and I was willing to take the gamble. So January 7th I hat the plate, hook and screws all removed. I have 100 % mobility, 100 % no pain and I can do weights, swim, bike and run. For me it was the best decision I could have made.

I think this is a decision to be made between you and your doctor. I suggest doing some research, weigh the pros and cons and decide. I have absolutely no regrets, the only regret is I waited 9 months after surgery to get everything removed. Good luck and I hope things work out for you. Hope to see you at a race soon. Let us know what happens.

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Barry Dmitruk
2017: Florida 70.3 (done); Mont Tremblant 70.3 & Ironman

If you do decide on surgery, GIVE THE INJURY TIME TO HEAL. Do not rush things, I can't stress that enough. Mobility exercises at first and NO MORE.

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Barry Dmitruk
2017: Florida 70.3 (done); Mont Tremblant 70.3 & Ironman

Thanks for your replies. My gut tells me to have the hardware out. If that doesn't alleviate my biceps pain/weakness, I'll explore other solutions. I, too, wish I could go back to how I was pre-accident. My only consolation is the settlement from the accident for which I'm grateful, but money cannot make you whole.

I broke my collarbone after a particularly nasty bike crash.
Collarbone wasn't starting to heal correctly. So I had the surgery to install plate and screws to straighten it all out.
The surgery to install was the worst experience. Everything hurt, my shoulder, ribs, hip.. The nerve block was indescribable. It was a very awful couple of days.
But, 8 weeks later, I had a surgery to take the plate and screws out. This is a funny story.
My ortho says "Lou, you are a big guy" I'm like, "yeah, and ?"
He says "this surgery is going to take 15 minutes high end"
I'm like "and this is bad ?"
"No, but, the shortest amount of time I can you will be out is about an hour"
"So ?"
"Is there anything else I can do for you while I have you there ?"
"Like what ?"
So I had him remove a screw out of my ankle that occasionally hurt.
Wild story.
The rehab and PT from that was real easy and pretty much a breeze.

Is there a limit for how long you can keep a plate in?

Mine has been on for about 3 years now but I'd like to take it out at a point.

Someone told me if if stays in for too long then you can't take it out, though I feel like this is incorrect.

I've had mine in for almost 4 years. I broke mine at IM 70.3 New Orleans in 2012. My only ambulance ride ever - hopefully. Thanks potholes. Anyway, my plate doesn't bother me at all. My surgeon told me that unless it bothers you there is no reason to take it out. Even though the removal procedure is supposed to be not nearly as bothersome as the original surgery, it still requires general anesthesia and probably a week or two of limited activity. So for me, I just look at it like a lifelong souvenir. Hope all goes well for you whatever you decide. Cheers,
-Doug

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It is the mind itself which builds the body.
-Joseph Pilates

I just broke mine a couple of weeks ago (a pedestrian stepped out in front of me and I went over the bars. Yeah, I know). Fractured my radial head and also shattered my clavicle into multiple pieces, mostly along the lateral side.

Being a complicated and lateral fracture, I was told that a hook plate would be needed. Basically the plate is attached to the pieces of bone of the clavicle, after being hooked under the part of the scapula at the AC joint. I think it's called an Open Reduction Internal Fixation ("ORIF") procedure to attach the plate. [Go have some fun on google, but I don't recommend watching the videos of the procedure]

Anyways, because this type of plate hooks in underneath the scapula, during movement it'll rub against ligaments, causing discomfort and potentially damage. This is why these are usually removed after 6-12 months.

I didn't particularly enjoy my surgery last week Friday (okay, the general anaesthetic was nice), but have read that many having had the same done experienced a lot of relief when the plate was eventually removed.

I hope it's a good experience for me too when I have it done.

Hi all,

Great thread, so I am contributing to the learning/database of clavicle treatment/outcomes. I am a 50 year old male.

My story is June 28th, 2017 I was ambushed by a dog causing me to high side going 25mph, landing on my head, knocked out cold, awakening to three joggers standing overhead telling me I was alright and an ambulance was on its way. My clavicle was snapped, with a break point clearly stuck up into a fair sized trapezius muscle.

The first orthopedic I saw said that despite the large separation, there was little shortening of the length of the shoulder, and therefore we should wait and see before making a decision on surgery. If there is little shortening of the shoulder, non-surgical healing is preferred route by most doctors. Well my shoulder was not shortening because the bone was jammed up into the muscle (think of a knife jammed into a meaty steak), and so my shoulder was not going anywhere. And I thought, hmmm, looks to me like this break should be realigned, I mean it was really broken, and I am really active (5X ironman finishes, and assorted other ultra activities) which seemed to make no difference to the doctor. So I sought a second opinion.

The second orthopedic said, yep, that looks like that break should be corrected with surgery, but let’s wait a few days and see if it moves. So I waited over the July 4th weekend with a bone tip knife sticking into my trap (arghhh) thinking, for sure surgery. That was until a friend shared me a picture of the plate and screws that went in to his collarbone break - and then I thought - Whoooaaa - what is that?!!! Suddenly this was a much bigger decision.

After a great holiday weekend, I went back to both doctors. I saw the second orthopedic first. We took another picture, and he said, "Yep, surgery, and I have time tomorrow morning, let’s get it done." I said "Ok" - I mean what else I am supposed to say. Then I drove myself to the other doctor, we took another picture, and he said, "Yep, you look good, and I think surgery is going to be a step back in your recovery." Truth was I was already feeling good (already using a power spray washing and leaf blower over the weekend with arm in a sling). I said "Ok, are you sure?" He said "Yep, we can always cut later." I said "Ok" and left.

Contemplating this a bit, I concluded that the bottom line was: I was going to have a great recovery either way. I was strong (a dozen pull-ups no problem, regular workouts with 70lb+ dumbbells no problem, 100 pushups no problem, etc.) But which way to go? I opted to keep my surgical appointment - I figured over the long haul - I wanted that bone aligned properly, and I did not want to risk a non-union (that is when the bone does not grow back together) as I knew that in order to heal back together naturally, then bone would somehow have to connect through the trapezius, and that looked wrong. And if I had the surgery later after a non-union, this would be a much more drawn out thing - and I am anxious to return to full power.

It is now eight weeks post surgery - and did I make the right decision? Well, like I say, I know I will make a strong recovery - but - I cannot wait to get the plate and screws out - and that is why I am on this thread. The stiffness and inflexibility the plate and screws impart right now is really something. I can best describe it as feeling like a big stiff metal bug attached to my shoulder (it looks like that too). And until I get that metal bug off me, I am not going to feel right - how could I? So this thread was helpful to me, hearing others experience, and giving me some confidence that getting that metal bug off my shoulder will return me to feeling more like myself. Of course its still early, but that is what I am feeling today. As of right now, I am finally getting some range of movement going working with super light weights and breast stroke swimming to get things moving again.

Tomorrow, I will meet with the doctor again, take a picture, at which time I intend to ask him for an appointment to remove the metal bug at the earliest date possible. With that on the calendar, I will continue to rehab and move forward, but I want to meet that day soon, expecting that there will not be a material change in the way I feel about the stiff metal bug on my shoulder. And I am not going to wait a year, in fact I think we get the bug out as soon as we see the fracture is well healed. In my mind, I don't see any reason for the bone and tissue connect at, or around, the plate and screws. Get that bug out! I will be taking it relatively easy as I can, although I am now back on my daily bike commute to work, and activity just has a way of creeping into my life. But once the metal bug is out, I intend to wrap it in some strength and muscle for further protection and be as careful as I can on the bike.

I will report back if/when/after I get the metal bug removed. For those new to researching this injury and recovery, I have found there is no easy answer with this one. The good news is, it’s a collar bone. And if you broke it, you can finally count yourself among "real"cyclists because it’s apparently a rite of passage. If you want more information on recovery, I intend to post a more detailed story that tracks my specific exercises I do (as it looks like people really need and learn from others and I cannot find good instruction of recovery exercises) at http://www.jonsabes.com. Good luck!

The ROM exercises are the key; one thing that helped me was drills in the pool once I was cleared (Doug Stern's sewing machine drill in the archives here was a godsend) and yoga. I still have my hardware in almost 11 years later and it hasn't restricted me from anything. Good luck in your recovery!

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"You can never win or lose if you don't run the race." - Richard Butler

I had a hook plate. Clavicle fractured just a few mm from the distal end. That wasn't enough bone left to screw a normal plate into. Plate was removed after 5 months. While the plate was in I was not able to touch my back, or raise that arm overhead. Also the plate hook must have impinged on nerves because I was getting pretty bad nerve pain especially when rolling over in bed. After plate removal the range of motion returned within 7-10 days and the pain stopped.

As for training, swimming was completely out. Running was okay up to 30 minutes then the discomfort would become too much. So I rode. The trainer at first and then the road. Rode every day that summer until the plate came out in the fall.

This gives me hope!! Thanks Dilbert!
It's now been nearly 3 months since surgery. I've mobility problems much like your own as well as similar nerve pain. I can't pull my arm across my body very far if I'm trying to for e.g. touch the opposite shoulder, not can I lift it straight into the air. Pain is worse at night and particularly for those first few minutes in the morning.
I'm seeing the orthopaedic in about 6 weeks where he said we'll be booking the removal surgery. I'm not sure how long after this date it'll be.
Did you also have muscle atrophy, and if you did, how was your experience with remedying it? Small weights?
Thanks again for giving me hope.

How long was your hardware in before you had it removed? I have hardware and bone grafting, it was done 7 weeks ago, and the pain is still awful.

I've had mine in for 9 months and change. 7 weeks, yeah it's gonna still be awful. When I spoke with my surgeon and afterwards on follow ups. Only 1/3 of plates ever get removed. So most people live with that piece of titanium for the rest of their life. Now there's tenderness at the collarbone because there's really nothing in between the plate and skin.

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Washed up footy player turned Triathlete.

I have pain down my arm too, and my neck, is that normal? And will I ever be able to lift my arm higher than chest area?

I had the same issues. Make your doctor send you to physical therapy, mine tried to tell me I'd be able to race in 10 weeks. I would say I didn't feel "normal" until six months post surgery. Basically your muscles in the shoulder got destroyed and they need to be rebuilt from 0.

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Washed up footy player turned Triathlete.

My hardware has been in for 15 months. No issues here and I have zero plans to take it out.

Biggest thing I found with recovery was use your arm as much as possible. The quicker you get it moving, the faster the recovery.

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blog

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^THIS

Mine is going on 11.5 years now without issue, key for me was initially range of motion exercises and then yoga, and eventually swimming. No pain/irritation to this day and it's never limited me in doing anything. No plans to have it removed.

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"You can never win or lose if you don't run the race." - Richard Butler

I’m not doing any physiotherapy, but I’m a hairstylist, and I’m back to work, it’s killing me doing that, I just want to be back to normal.

I’ll another data point.

I’m 52, medium build, 5’8”, 160 lbs. I’m not a triathlete, as I swim like a stone. I used do some 24 hour mountain bike relay races “back in the day”, and certainly experienced enough crashes then. Thankfully, only ever broke ribs in those crashes.

So, my level of fitness, while better than the typical American (low bar there), is not up to par with this group, but, the injury and subsequent surgery are the same nonetheless.

As a baseline, I do short road-bike rides 2-4 days a week (20-30 miles typically, as that’s all my work schedule gives me time for), and during the warmer months typically kayak 1-3 days week as well. For me, kayaking usually involves paddling up stream for 2-3 hours, and then back down. This isn’t just a lazy float down the river with a beer cooler in tow. This provides a good stress relief, and some upper body workout, as I hate indoor exercise for the sake of exercise (again, I probably don’t fit in here in that regard either).

OK, enough about my background, and on to the current injury and subsequent surgery.

First, some relevant medical history.

15 months ago, I suffered a comminuted fracture of the right clavicle, along with a fractured right scapula and four right-side posterior rib fractures. Cause was a low-speed (30 mph) low side motorcycle crash. This was on a race track (turn 4B at VIR), wearing full race leathers. A crash like this usually results in little to no injury, but, unfortunately, my right shoulder found an exposed edge of the track sliding from the dirt on the inside of the turn back onto the tarmac.

The pain from this was the worst I’ve ever experienced, including recovering from lumbar fusion surgery 3 years prior.

The ortho-surgeon’s recommendation was to just let it heal naturally, which is what I did. Several weeks of PT starting at week three, and I was good as new in 8 weeks, and back on the track in 13 weeks.

A comminuted fracture is one where the bone breaks into a lot small pieces. It was basically shattered mid-shaft, but, all where held roughly in place by surrounding muscle and other tissue.

Fast forward to July 27th of this year. Low-side crash going into turn six at Summit Point Raceway, speed, approx 45 MPH. Should’ve been a non-injury slide, but, when I got to the grass, I tumbled and took a hard hit to the right shoulder.

This time is was a complete single break. The fracture was being hold about 5-6mm apart by my muscle, so, ORIF surgery was required. It was complicated by the previous fracture, which ended up healing as large bulge in the middle of the bone. Two plates were required, one on top, and one in front. I’m not sure how many screws were involved, I’ll try to snap a pic of the X-rays at the post-op visit.

As another post mentioned earlier in this thread. I do have concerns about any future crash (motorcycle, or bicycle for that matter) risking breaking the clavicle in a worse location, near one end, due to the presence of all this hardware in the middle. I’m only 1 week post-op, so, I don’t yet know what discomfort or irritation I’ll have from the hardware long term. I’m experiencing some nerve pain in my right forearm and two fingers on my right hand. I hope this resolves as the swelling reduces.

I have a post-op visit to the surgeon next Wednesday, which will be just shy of 2 weeks post-op. I’m hoping I’ll be cleared for PT, at least ROM, if not some light strength training at that time. For now, I’m to keep it in a sling, and “lift nothing heavier than a fork.”

I will be investing in an airbag equipped race suit before returning to the track. I’d already been considering the purchase of one, and I wish I had one on when I crashed, as it likely would’ve saved me this fracture.

I’ll update this thread with my recovery progress.

See attached for pre-op x-ray.

[url=https://ibb.co/6nJNQTg][/url]]
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TL;DR (too long didn’t read):
Right clavicle fracture, open reduction with internal fixation. History of previous fracture 15 months prior. Considering future removal of hardware.

[url=https://ibb.co/30dTNKk][/url]

Your plate looks like mine, all bent to shit. Apparently mine was a re-break of a break when I was 5 and then again at 14, that never properly healed so it was curved. Apparently the doc had to use a hammer to get mine to fit. I'm a bit jealous of those with nice straight plates in their x rays

Welcome to the titanium club, hope your recovery goes well. FWIW, I’m coming up on 14 years now with the plate/screws in mine and zero issues/limitations with it. Best of luck!

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"You can never win or lose if you don't run the race." - Richard Butler

So, just a quick update.

I'm now a month post-op. I started riding (bicycle, not moto) about 16 days post-op, and was quite sore, so, I gave it another week after that. I've been riding every since, though, only up to about an hour and 20 minutes so far. My pain levels pretty minimal, I'm not taking anything for pain any more. Range of motion is about 85% normal. I do have some muscle tightness in the shoulder blade area and some on the right side of my neck, but, it is getting better.

I have a followup with the surgeon in 9 days. I'm hoping to be allowed to start doing some light strength training at that point.