Can The Shortened Length Of My Clavicle Be Fixed After Having A Fracture?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am interested in the collarbone lengthening surgery. A few years ago, I had a fall and broke my collarbone. The fracture shortened my collarbone by an inch and since then, my back, shoulder, and arm hurt.

A: Untreated clavicle fractures are well known to shorten as they heal. Clavicle lengthening would certainly be the logical approach to treating the problem. While clavicle lengthening surgery for aesthetic purposes is limited due to the soft tissues of tiger shoulder girdle, in reversing shortening from fractures the shoulder tissues are used to the length that it originally was. Thus, in theory it should be successful. I would need to see x-rays of both shoulders and presumably the osteotomy site would be at the fractured area.

Dr. Barry Eppley

World-Renowned Plastic Surgeon