Clavicle Fracture ORIF

Massachusetts General Hospital · MGH Sports Medicine

Weight-Bearing

Sling at least 3 wks (remove 4x/day for exercises/ADLs); sling while sleeping; no driving until off sling and off narcotics

Key Restrictions

No active shoulder motion Phase I; no lifting/carrying with involved arm; no WB through involved arm; no shoulder flexion or ABD >90 deg Phase I; PROM: ER/IR in scapular plane to tolerance + flex/scaption/ABD ≤90 deg; no resistance strengthening Phase II; begin isometrics wks 4-6; begin isotonics wk 6-8 per radiographic healing

Timeline & Phases

4 phases: Phase I (wks 1-4, PROM ≤90 + ER/IR tolerance; scap retraction/depression; elbow/wrist/hand AROM), Phase II (wks 4-6, AAROM ≤120 then full PROM per tolerance; begin isometrics; sling D/C per surgeon), Phase III (wks 6-12, full ROM goal; isotonic shoulder strengthening per radiographic healing; grade III-IV mobs), Phase IV (wk 12+, advanced strengthening; return to sport/function)

Notes

Criterion-based; bone health, blood supply, pre-op ROM all affect progression; radiographic healing drives isotonic initiation; factors: BMI, smoking, diabetes; complications to monitor: fever, numbness/tingling, drainage. [Archived copy — original Massachusetts General Hospital URL retired in the Mass General Brigham site migration; Wayback snapshot 2025-02-16.]

Surgeon / Author

MGH Sports Medicine