Clavicle Fracture RECOVERY with Dr Nicholas Slenker

Coordinated Health has more board-certified sports medicine orthopedic surgeons than anyone else in the region, and we’ve been the area's leader in sports medicine for 30 years. Our sports medicine orthopedic surgeons and primary care physicians are experienced in treating athletes and active adults of all ages, and the majority have advanced fellowship training in sports medicine. As former and current athletes themselves, many of our doctors have first-hand experience with sports injuries, making them uniquely positioned to relate to what athletes are going through and to manage expectations around recovery.

Sports have always played a big part of 16-year-old Parkland High School student Dylan Rahm’s life. So when a clavicle fracture threatened his ability to play any sport, he turned to his team physician and Coordinated Health Orthopedic Surgeon Nick Slenker, M.D. for help.

Dylan Rahm has always loved sports. In fact, he’s been involved in some type of sporting activity since he was three and has always enjoyed watching professional football with his dad. He started playing football in kindergarten, but after finding lacrosse about six years ago knew that he had found a sport he was truly passionate about.

“I just like the quick, competitive drive of the game. I also enjoy the friendships that I have made along the way,” he says.

Since lacrosse and football are played during different seasons, Rahm chose to play both sports. However, an injury during a football game almost left him unable to play either. “I received a wide receiver hand off and was making way to the edge of the field when a smaller corner back took out my legs, causing me to flip and land on my clavicle,” explains Rahm.

Fortunately, a Coordinated Health Athletic Trainer was on the sidelines when his injury occurred and immediately sent him to the Care on Demand, which is just a few miles from the school.

After an X-ray and a physical, Coordinated Health Orthopedic Surgeon Nick Slenker, M.D, determined that Rahm had a fractured clavicle. The clavicle is located between the ribcage and the shoulder blade and connects the arm to the body. Most breaks are in the middle of the bone and are caused by a direct blow to the shoulder like a fall.

While in some cases a clavicle fracture can heal with conservative treatment, Dr. Slenker concluded that since Rahm’s bones were displaced he would benefit from surgery. “We’ve found over the last few years that patients do better a lot better with surgery, than just allowing them to heal in a poor position,” says Dr. Slenker.

Rahm’s main concern with surgery was whether he would be able to play lacrosse in the spring, specifically his college showcases. But, Dr. Slenker knew that thanks to a newly designed titanium clavicle plate, Dylan would be back and better than ever for lacrosse.

The surgery Dr. Slenker performed on Dylan was an open reduction internal fixation of his clavicle and is performed on an outpatient basis and generally done within an hour. He used a new anatomic plate made of titanium that was designed specifically to fit the clavicle bone. “The clavicle is actually an s shaped bone and previously we had been trying to conform a straight plate by bending it appropriately, but oftentimes it wouldn’t have good outcomes. This plate fits perfectly so patients don’t have any irritation,” he says.

After the surgery, Rahm was in a sling for about a week and started physical therapy right away. He was back to lacrosse in just ten weeks and has since decided to just stick with the sport that he loves. He is thankful for Dr. Slenker’s quick actions. “The process at Coordinated Health was amazing. I got an X-ray just 20 minutes after my injury. Dr. Slenker did an excellent job and my PT’s were great! Now if I’m ever injured, I know where to go,” says Rahm.

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