From: http://www.espn.com/olympics/cycling/news/story?id=4008306
USA Cycling physician Eric Heiden, the quintuple speedskating Olympic
gold medalist who is now an orthopedic surgeon in Salt Lake City, said
modern treatment of broken collarbones has reduced average healing time
from six weeks to four.
Broken collarbones
can mend on their own without surgical intervention, but Heiden, who
also competed in elite cycling and started the 1986 Tour de France, said
the current "treatment of choice" for cyclists with the injury is to
insert a titanium plate that is 3/4 inch wide, 1/8 inch thick and can
range from 2 1/2 to 6 inches long to "bridge" the fracture, held in
place with screws.
The plate is specially molded to fit the
collarbone, which has a unique curve, Heiden said. It's an outpatient
procedure, and the plate generally is left in place rather than removed
after healing.
"Then, it's just a matter of treating the soreness," he said.
With
the plate stabilizing the fracture, riders can generally start training
on a stationary bike in a week, Heiden said.
"In six weeks, there shouldn't be
any residual problems from the collarbone," Heiden said.
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