How is a clavicle fracture diagnosed?

How is a clavicle fracture diagnosed?

If you think you’ve broken your clavicle, seek immediate medical attention. A healthcare provider will:

• Ask you to describe what happened.
• Examine the area.
• Take X-rays of the injured area to confirm a broken bone. X-rays can also show exactly where the break is, how bad it is and whether any other bones broke.

If the healthcare provider thinks there’s damage to a joint or artery, you may get more tests:

• Arteriography/arteriogram, which uses X-rays and dye to see inside the arteries.
• CT scans, which provide more detailed pictures than X-rays.
• Ultrasound, which uses sound waves to create pictures of what’s happening in the body.