Broken Collarbone Near the Shoulder: Sling or Surgery? A fracture at the outer end of the clavicle, right next to the shoulder, can behave very differently from the more common midshaft break, and that difference drives every treatment decision. Your distal #clavicle sits beside the acromioclavicular (AC) joint and is anchored to the shoulder blade by the coracoclavicular ligaments, the conoid and trapezoid. These ligaments are the key. When they still hold the bone in place, the fracture is usually stable. When the break separates the clavicle shaft from those ligaments, the weight of the arm pulls the shoulder down while the neck and shoulder muscles pull the clavicle up. That tug of war is why some of these fractures struggle to heal. Evaluation starts with a careful exam and X-rays, including an angled view of the AC joint. CT can help define comminution or joint extension when needed. Stable, minimally displaced fractures typically do well with a sling, early gentle motion, and a gradual return to strengthening. For displaced, unstable patterns, surgery may be recommended to restore alignment and improve the chance of healing. Options include precontoured locking plates, hook plates for very small outer fragments, and coracoclavicular stabilization with suture-button or tape constructs, sometimes arthroscopically assisted. Each technique has tradeoffs, and no single method is the universal gold standard. 👇 SHARE your #collarbone injury & experience 🎥 Arthrex™️ - Distal Clavicle Fracture Repair #orthopedicsurgery