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Cyclists tend to recover rapidly from clavicle fractures
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BOULDER, Colo. — Fixation of displaced fractures in cyclists often allows for rapid mobilization and return to training, according to data presented at the International Extreme Sports Medicine Annual Congress.
“The joke amongst cyclists is if you ride long enough or at a high enough level, you will fracture your clavicle at some point,” Jonathan T. Bravman, MD, an assistant professor in the Department of Orthopaedics at the University of Colorado, said, here.
Bravman cited a study of 51 professional cyclists who sustained 103 injuries during a 4-year period. Of the injuries, the cyclists sustained 28 fractures (22%), 11 of which were to the clavicle.
Caring for cyclists with clavicle fractures can also be a challenge, he said. In other data cited by Bravman, professional cyclists who were advised to resume training and racing at 3 weeks to 6 weeks or 6 weeks to 12 weeks, respectively, actually returned to racing in 3 weeks. He said this is an attitude that tends to permeate through all levels of extreme sports participants, but contrasted with amateur cyclists, who returned to riding at 15 weeks.
He said most clavicle fractures in cyclists are displaced fractures and typically occur in the mid-shaft region. Historically, the fractures have been treated nonoperatively, even if they are significantly displaced, and the fractures have a nonunion rate of approximately 15% to 20%, Bravman said.
Orthopedics Today is the medical media partner for the International Extreme Sports Medicine Congress. — by Christian Ingram
Reference:
Bravman JT. Clavical fractures in cyclists. Presented at: International Extreme Sports Medicine Annual Congress; June 13-14, 2014; Boulder, Colo.
Disclosure: Bravman has no relevant financial disclosures