OT baws, rate my X-ray

Screws should have been identical lengths

Did you do this for the same reasons Marilyn Manson did?

Probably would have done just as good by rubbing dirt on it.

Clavicle bones will fuse as long as you keep them in the same room.

#Youllbefine

6 weeks in this is how it will heal fyi. Theee months and it’s fully done.

quote:

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claude says Looking at this image, here's my lay read: Hardware: Plate appears to be a standard superior clavicle locking plate, well-contoured to the bone Screw count looks like 6-8 cortical screws, appearing fully seated No obvious screw backout or loosening visible Plate position looks anatomically appropriate — no gross malposition Bone: The fracture site is somewhat difficult to pinpoint precisely in this view, but the clavicle shaft appears reasonably well-aligned under the plate At 6 weeks, I would expect to see early periosteal callus beginning to form — it's hard to confirm or deny that on a screen photo vs. a true DICOM No obvious hardware failure (no bent plate, no broken screws) Acromioclavicular joint looks intact on this view. Glenohumeral joint (shoulder ball and socket) appears normal. Overall impression: Hardware intact, alignment looks acceptable. Nothing that screams a problem.

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Some radiologist is reading this thinking “there goes my four year residency down the drain”

Uh, that's not you clavicle, that's your collar bone.

I can give you a general, non-diagnostic impression, but your orthopedic surgeon and radiologist are the ones who can tell you definitively how it's healing.

From this X-ray, it appears you had a surgical repair of a clavicle (collarbone) fracture with a plate and multiple screws. Overall, the hardware looks intact—nothing obvious suggests a broken plate, loosened screw, or major shift in alignment. That’s exactly what you want to see.

A few encouraging signs:

The fracture alignment appears well maintained.
The plate and screws are holding everything in good position.
There seems to be early bridging bone (callus) forming around the fracture site, which is a normal sign of healing.

A few things to keep in mind:

At this stage, it may not yet look completely “filled in” on X-ray. Clavicle fractures often take 8–12 weeks (sometimes longer) to show solid radiographic union.
Even when you feel better, the bone can still be remodeling for several months.
Hardware prominence is common in clavicle repairs because there isn't much tissue covering the bone.

What doctors typically look for:

Progressive bridging bone across the fracture
No widening or displacement at the fracture line
Stable hardware without loosening (such as halos around screws)
Gradual fading of the fracture line over time

Based on this single image, the healing appears to be progressing appropriately, with stable fixation and no obvious complications. That's good news. Still, one X-ray is just one frame of the movie—comparison with earlier films is what really tells the story.

You should contact your surgeon promptly if you notice increasing pain, redness, swelling, drainage, fever, or a sudden change in shoulder function.

no shoulder caps. no traps. do you even lift bro?