Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 4 complete abstracts (797 words), 10 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
A bone on the ventral side of the shoulder girdle, which in humans is commonly called the collar bone.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Clavicles; Collar Bone; Bone, Collar; Bones, Collar; Collar Bones.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Bones of Upper Extremity
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 6,987 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Clavicle” (counts retrieved 2026-10-31). 1,147 of them (16.4%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is through 1999 with 2,774 records.
Reviews account for 605 records (8.7%) and meta-analyses for 86. Randomized controlled trials number 150 (2.1%) as a share of all records on the topic.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 2,774 |
| 2000-2009 | 1,116 |
| 2010-2019 | 1,950 |
| 2020 onward | 1,147 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 605 | 8.7% |
| Meta-analyses | 86 | 1.2% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 150 | 2.1% |
Method: PubMed query "Clavicle"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-31.
Reading the evidence in anatomy and physiology
Anatomy describes how body structures are built and physiology describes how they normally work, so most findings here are descriptive or mechanistic rather than evidence about treatment. Much of what is known comes from dissection, imaging, tissue studies and experiments in animals, and measurements in healthy volunteers can differ from those in people with disease or at different ages. Normal ranges vary between individuals and populations. Check whether a result was measured in people or in another species, the age and health of the participants, and the method used.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clavicle fractures: epidemiology, classification and treatment of 2 422 fractures in the Swedish Fracture Register; an observational study | 2017 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 161 | cc by PMID 28202071 · DOI · PMC5312264 |
| Estimating age of mature adults from the degeneration of the sternal end of the clavicle | 2015 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 30 | cc by PMID 25327699 · DOI · PMC4303940 |
| Acute medial clavicle fracture in adults: a systematic review of demographics, clinical features and treatment outcomes in 220 patients | 2019 | Systematic review Design not recorded in structured metadata | 29 | cc by PMID 31254115 · DOI · PMC6598891 |
| Clavicular Gorham-Stout disease: a rare case report and literature review | 2026 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 0 | cc by PMID 42466344 · DOI · PMC13373952 |
Clavicle fractures: epidemiology, classification and treatment of 2 422 fractures in the Swedish Fracture Register; an observational study [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- BackgroundLarge multi-centre studies of clavicle fractures have so far been missing.
- Closing excerpt
- Displaced midshaft fractures were the most common type of clavicle fracture as well as the most frequently operated type of fracture.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (197 words)
BackgroundLarge multi-centre studies of clavicle fractures have so far been missing. The aim of this observational study was to describe the epidemiology, classification and treatment of clavicle fractures in the The Swedish Fracture Register (SFR) that collects national prospective data from large fracture populations.MethodsData were retrieved from the SFR on all clavicle fractures sustained by patients ≥ 15 years of age in 2013-2014 (n = 2 422) with regards to date of injury, cause of injury, fracture classification and treatment.ResultsSixty-eight per cent of the clavicle fractures occurred in males. The largest subgroup was males aged 15-24 years, representing 21% of clavicle fractures. At the ages of 65 years and above, females sustained more clavicle fractures than males. Same-level falls and bicycle accidents were the most common injury mechanisms. Displaced midshaft fractures constituted 43% of all fractures and were the most frequently operated fractures. Seventeen per cent of the patients underwent operative treatment within 30 days of the injury, where plate fixation was the choice of treatment in 94% of fractures.ConclusionThe largest patient group was young males. Displaced midshaft fractures were the most common type of clavicle fracture as well as the most frequently operated type of fracture.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 28202071 · DOI · PMC5312264
Estimating age of mature adults from the degeneration of the sternal end of the clavicle [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- The sternal end of the clavicle has been illustrated to be useful in aging young adults, however, no studies have investigated what age-related changes occur to the sternal end post epiphyseal fusion.
- Closing excerpt
- , 46+ years), and provides several suggestions for future research.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (250 words)
The sternal end of the clavicle has been illustrated to be useful in aging young adults, however, no studies have investigated what age-related changes occur to the sternal end post epiphyseal fusion. In this study, three morphological features (i.e., surface topography, porosity, and osteophyte formation) were examined and scored using 564 clavicles of individuals of European ancestry (n = 318 males; n = 246 females), with known ages of 40+ years, from four documented skeletal collections: Hamann-Todd, Pretoria, St. Bride's, and Coimbra. An ordinal scoring method was developed for each of the three traits. Surface topography showed the strongest correlation with age, and composite scores (formed by summing the three separate trait scores) indicated progressive degeneration of the surface with increasing chronological age. Linear regression analyses were performed on the trait scores to produce pooled-sample age estimation equations. Blind tests of the composite score method and regression formulae on 56 individuals, aged 40+ years, from Christ Church Spitalfields, suggest accuracies of 96.4% for both methods. These preliminary results display the first evidence of the utility of the sternal end of the clavicle in aging older adult individuals. However, in the current format, these criteria should only be applied to individuals already identified as over 40 years in order to refine the age ranges used for advanced age. These findings do suggest the sternal end of the clavicle has potential to aid age estimates beyond the traditional "mature adult" age category (i.e., 46+ years), and provides several suggestions for future research.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 25327699 · DOI · PMC4303940
Acute medial clavicle fracture in adults: a systematic review of demographics, clinical features and treatment outcomes in 220 patients [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- BackgroundMedial third clavicle fractures are rare injuries, with limited information available on their characteristics or treatment results.
- Closing excerpt
- Level of evidenceIV.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (231 words)
BackgroundMedial third clavicle fractures are rare injuries, with limited information available on their characteristics or treatment results.Materials and methodsWe performed a systematic review according to PRISMA guidelines to evaluate the demographics, clinical profile, management and treatment outcome. Electronic searches of the MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane databases were performed.ResultsSeventeen studies were included, consisting of 7 case series and 10 case reports. Two hundred twenty fractures were identified. Seventy-eight percent of fractures occurred in men with mean age of 48 years (16-94 years). Road traffic accident was the most common mechanism of injury (64%). Associated injuries occurred in 81% of patients, with thoracic trauma being the most common (47%). The most common fracture type was extra-articular, with no or minimal displacement (60%). In 9% of patients the fracture was segmental. One hundred ninety-one patients received nonoperative treatment. Twenty-nine patients were treated operatively. The overall nonunion rate was 5% (7/137). The nonunion rate following nonoperative management was 4.6% (5/108). The functional result following nonoperative treatment indicated overall "good" functional outcome. There was no report of catastrophic intraoperative complication amongst patients undergoing surgical fixation.ConclusionMedial third clavicle fractures represent a distinct subgroup of clavicle fractures. Nonoperative treatment of these fracture seems to result in high union rate and overall favourable functional outcome. Further high-quality research in this area is warranted to investigate the outcomes and indication for nonoperative versus operative management of these fractures.Level of evidenceIV.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 31254115 · DOI · PMC6598891
Clavicular Gorham-Stout disease: a rare case report and literature review [4]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Gorham-Stout disease (GSD) is a rare idiopathic osteolytic disorder, and its diagnosis depends on a comprehensive evaluation of clinical, imaging, and pathological findings, alongside the systematic exclusion of other diseases.
- Closing excerpt
- In clinical practice, the routine internal fixation of fractures without a definitive diagnosis may lead to severe consequences.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (119 words)
Gorham-Stout disease (GSD) is a rare idiopathic osteolytic disorder, and its diagnosis depends on a comprehensive evaluation of clinical, imaging, and pathological findings, alongside the systematic exclusion of other diseases. We report a case of GSD characterized by progressive clavicular bone destruction and resorption following low-energy trauma. Monitoring biochemical markers related to bone turnover is essential for early diagnosis and disease assessment, which is critical for controlling disease progression. The early administration of osteoclast activity inhibitors, combined with active vitamin D supplementation, can improve prognosis. Treatment plans should be individualized based on the lesion site, the patient's age, and specific needs. In clinical practice, the routine internal fixation of fractures without a definitive diagnosis may lead to severe consequences.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42466344 · DOI · PMC13373952
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Operative versus nonoperative care of displaced midshaft clavicular fractures: a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials [5]
- Research article Fractures of the clavicle [6]
- Research article Treatment of clavicle fractures: current concepts review [7]
- Research article Systematic review of the complications of plate fixation of clavicle fractures [8]
- Research article Bone age determination based on the study of the medial extremity of the clavicle [9]
- Research article Surgical Versus Nonsurgical Treatment for Midshaft Clavicle Fractures in Patients Aged 16 Years and Older: A Systematic Review, Meta-analysis, and Comparison of Randomized Controlled Trials and Observational Studies [10]
References
- Kihlström C, Möller M, Lönn K, Wolf O. Clavicle fractures: epidemiology, classification and treatment of 2 422 fractures in the Swedish Fracture Register; an observational study. . 2017. PMID 28202071 · DOI · PMC5312264
- Falys CG, Prangle D. Estimating age of mature adults from the degeneration of the sternal end of the clavicle. . 2015. PMID 25327699 · DOI · PMC4303940
- Asadollahi S, Bucknill A. Acute medial clavicle fracture in adults: a systematic review of demographics, clinical features and treatment outcomes in 220 patients. . 2019. PMID 31254115 · DOI · PMC6598891
- Mao B, Peng Q, Li J, Qin Z, Xie S, Qin Z. Clavicular Gorham-Stout disease: a rare case report and literature review. . 2026. PMID 42466344 · DOI · PMC13373952
- McKee RC, Whelan DB, Schemitsch EH, McKee MD. Operative versus nonoperative care of displaced midshaft clavicular fractures: a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2012. PMID 22419410 · DOI
- Khan LA, Bradnock TJ, Scott C, Robinson CM. Fractures of the clavicle. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2009. PMID 19181992 · DOI
- van der Meijden OA, Gaskill TR, Millett PJ. Treatment of clavicle fractures: current concepts review. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2012. PMID 22063756 · DOI
- Wijdicks FJ, Van der Meijden OA, Millett PJ, Verleisdonk EJ, Houwert RM. Systematic review of the complications of plate fixation of clavicle fractures. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 2012. PMID 22237694 · DOI · PMC3332382
- Kreitner KF, Schweden FJ, Riepert T, Nafe B, Thelen M. Bone age determination based on the study of the medial extremity of the clavicle. Eur Radiol. 1998. PMID 9724422 · DOI
- Smeeing DPJ, van der Ven DJC, Hietbrink F, Timmers TK, van Heijl M, Kruyt MC, et al.. Surgical Versus Nonsurgical Treatment for Midshaft Clavicle Fractures in Patients Aged 16 Years and Older: A Systematic Review, Meta-analysis, and Comparison of Randomized Controlled Trials and Observational Studies. Am J Sports Med. 2017. PMID 27864184 · DOI
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-10-31; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-10-31.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.