Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Görkem Kıyak
OrthopedicsVerified
- 21+years exp.
English · Turkish
FromPrice on request
Free quote
60 seconds · no obligationView Profile
Fractures & Trauma
Displaced clavicle fracture surgery
What displaced clavicle fracture surgery is, when a broken collarbone needs plating or a nail rather than a sling, what trials say about healing and function, how fixation options compare, approximate costs in Turkey against the UK, US and Germany, a week-by-week recovery timeline, the risks, and how to choose a surgeon and travel safely.
A written plan with the surgeon's name and the full price — usually within 24 hours.
- Category
- Fractures & Trauma
- Hospitals
- 2
- Verified
- 1
- Price from
- Price on request
Verified surgeons for Displaced Clavicle Fracture Surgery
1 doctor Compare doctors, ratings and prices — ask any of them for a free quote.
Displaced clavicle fracture surgery: what it is and how it works
The clavicle, or collarbone, is the long bone that runs from the breastbone to the shoulder. When it breaks and the two ends move apart, shorten or overlap, the fracture is called displaced. Displaced clavicle fracture surgery puts the ends back in position (reduction) and holds them there with metal fixation until the bone heals. The most common method is open reduction and internal fixation: a cut of about 5 to 10 cm over the bone, a precontoured titanium or steel plate placed along the bone and fixed with screws. A second method uses an intramedullary nail, a thin rod passed inside the bone through a smaller incision. Surgery is performed under general anaesthesia, often combined with a nerve block for pain control.
Most collarbone fractures heal without an operation, so surgery is offered only when a particular pattern or situation makes it worthwhile. This guide explains when it is recommended, what the evidence says, how methods compare, what it costs compared with the UK, US and Germany, how recovery runs week by week and what to ask a surgeon in Turkey. For related bone injuries see our overview of orthopedics treatments in Turkey.
When does a displaced collarbone fracture need surgery?
Surgeons consider an operation when the bone is clearly out of line and the risks of leaving it are higher than the risks of surgery. Typical reasons are:
- a fracture that is shortened by about 2 cm or more, or with the fragments fully separated or overlapping;
- a bone end that tents or threatens to break through the skin (an open or impending open fracture);
- injury to blood vessels or nerves;
- multiple fractures around the shoulder, such as a floating shoulder, or several broken ribs;
- failure of healing (non-union) after several months in a sling;
- a patient with high physical demands, such as a manual worker or athlete, who prefers a faster return to function.
Fractures that are only slightly displaced, and fractures in many older or less active people, are usually treated with a sling and physiotherapy. A surgeon should be able to explain from your X-ray which group you are in.
Does surgery work better than a sling?
Randomised trials of displaced midshaft fractures in adults, including a Canadian Orthopaedic Trauma Society study published in 2007, found that plate fixation produced faster healing, fewer cases of non-union and malunion and earlier return of shoulder function than a sling. Later reviews found that the long-term difference in shoulder scores between surgery and a sling narrows or disappears, while surgery carries its own complications such as infection and hardware irritation. In practice the benefit is clearest for markedly displaced and shortened fractures, and less clear for borderline ones. This is why a surgeon should discuss both options and the reasons for the recommendation. A trustworthy hospital will not promise a perfect shape or a guaranteed return to sport.
Plate or nail: which fixation is used?
| Method | Best suited to | Typical limits |
|---|---|---|
| Sling and physiotherapy | Minimally displaced or older, low-demand patients | Slower union, possible shortening and a bump over the bone |
| Plate and screws | Most displaced, shortened or comminuted fractures | Larger scar; plate can be felt under the skin; removal sometimes requested |
| Intramedullary nail | Simple midshaft fractures in thin patients | Not suitable for complex breaks; the nail may need removal |
Plates give the most control and are the standard choice in most countries. Your surgeon will choose from the pattern of the break and your bone. For other fracture surgery, see our pages on bone fracture treatment and operative treatment of a forearm fracture.
How much does displaced clavicle fracture surgery cost in Turkey?
The figures below are approximate ranges for the whole operation, not hospital quotes. The price depends on the type of implant, the length of hospital stay, whether the fracture is fresh or an old non-union, whether bone graft is needed and the hospital's category.
| Country | Approximate cost range |
|---|---|
| Turkey | €3,000 – €8,500 |
| United Kingdom | €6,500 – €15,000 |
| United States | €12,000 – €38,000 |
| Germany | €5,000 – €13,000 |
A package usually includes pre-operative X-rays and blood tests, the anaesthetist, the operation, the implant, one or two nights in hospital, a sling, medication and a follow-up check. Physiotherapy after you leave and plate removal are normally extra, so ask for the list in writing. The price for displaced clavicle fracture surgery from different hospitals is only comparable when the implant and the stay are the same.
What happens during the operation, step by step?
You are placed in a beach-chair or semi-sitting position under general anaesthesia, with a nerve block to reduce pain afterwards. The surgeon cuts along the collarbone, protects the nerves under it, lines the bone ends up, fixes them with a plate and screws, checks the position with an X-ray and closes the skin. Operating time is usually between 45 and 90 minutes. Most patients stay one night, and some go home the same day.
Recovery after displaced clavicle fracture surgery: week by week
| Time | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Days 1 to 3 | Sling, pain managed with tablets and ice; wound dressed; gentle hand and elbow movement |
| Weeks 1 to 2 | Sling continues; wound check and stitch removal at about 10 to 14 days; pendulum shoulder exercises |
| Weeks 2 to 6 | Active movement guided by a physiotherapist; no lifting more than a cup |
| Weeks 6 to 12 | X-ray shows healing; strengthening starts; return to desk work earlier, usually 2 to 4 weeks |
| Months 3 to 6 | Return to heavy work and contact sport when the surgeon agrees |
The time off work depends on the job. Driving is generally not advised until you are out of the sling and can control the car, often after 4 to 6 weeks. Flying is usually possible within a few days to a week if the surgeon agrees, as the sling can be worn on a plane. Plan to stay in Turkey for the operation, the first wound check and the first post-operative X-ray, which is usually 5 to 10 days. Further checks can be done at home, with the hospital's report and images.
Realistic results and what you may notice afterwards
The aim is a healed, aligned bone and a shoulder that works normally. A scar over the collarbone is expected and fades, though a scar and a ridge from the plate may be noticeable in thin people. Some people feel numbness just below the scar because small skin nerves cross the area. A small number find the plate bothers them under a bag strap or rucksack; it can be removed after healing, usually after 12 months, but not everyone needs this. X-rays are the way to confirm healing, not appearance alone.
Risks and complications of clavicle surgery
Every operation has risks. Common problems are numbness below the scar, a prominent plate and stiffness. Less common are wound infection, the screws loosening, delayed or failed healing, damage to a nerve or vessel under the bone and a lung puncture (pneumothorax), which is rare. The NHS and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons both explain these risks to patients, and they advise surgery only when the benefit justifies them. Smokers have a higher risk of poor healing, so stop smoking before and after. Ask the surgeon what the clinic does if an infection or implant problem appears after you return home.
How to choose an orthopaedic surgeon and hospital, and red flags
Choose a specialist in orthopaedics and traumatology (or shoulder surgery) in a licensed hospital with X-ray imaging in the theatre, an anaesthetist and a physiotherapy service. Send your original X-rays or CT scan so the team can confirm that surgery is really indicated. Red flags include a firm promise of surgery before reviewing your X-rays, no named surgeon, no breakdown of the implant and hospital costs, and no plan for follow-up in your own country. If you are unsure whether you need an operation at all, ask for an opinion without a booking. Read how our process works and use the free quote page to send your scans for review. If your problem is a joint rather than a break, see shoulder replacement.
Questions to ask the surgeon:
- From my X-ray, is surgery needed, or could a sling work?
- Will you use a plate or a nail, and which brand and material?
- How long will I need to stay in Turkey, and when is the first check?
- Is physiotherapy after leaving included or arranged at home?
- Will I get my X-rays and an operation report to take home?
- What happens if the plate needs removal later?
Hospitals with Orthopedics in Turkey
Frequently asked questions
It is an operation to realign a broken collarbone whose ends have moved apart, then hold them with a plate and screws or an intramedullary nail until the bone heals. It is done under general anaesthesia.
No. Many heal well in a sling. Surgeons usually recommend an operation for marked shortening, bone threatening the skin, nerve or vessel injury, multiple injuries, or failure to heal.
Approximate ranges are €3,000 to €8,500 in Turkey, against about €6,500 to €15,000 in the UK. The price depends on the implant, the length of stay and whether bone graft is needed. The hospital confirms its price in writing.
You wear a sling for about two to six weeks, return to desk work in two to four weeks, and often to heavy work or contact sport after three to six months once the bone has healed on X-ray.
Pain is greatest in the first few days and is controlled with a nerve block, tablets and ice. Most people find it much improved after one to two weeks, though the shoulder stays sore with movement for longer.
Not always. Some people feel the plate under the skin or under a bag strap and ask to have it removed after the bone has healed, usually about a year after surgery. Many keep it with no problem.
Plan for the operation, a night or two in hospital and the first wound check and X-ray, usually five to ten days in total. Your surgeon will confirm when it is safe to fly.
Surgery heals displaced fractures faster with fewer non-unions, but long-term shoulder function is often similar to a sling, and surgery has its own risks. The right choice depends on the fracture and your needs.
Risks include numbness below the scar, a prominent plate, infection, loosening of the screws, delayed healing and, rarely, damage to a nerve, vessel or lung. Smoking raises the risk of poor healing.
Not while you are in a sling or cannot control the car safely, which is often four to six weeks. Your surgeon and your insurance policy may set specific rules.
Patient stories