What to know about newborn clavicle fracture — a parent’s guide

What is a newborn clavicle fracture and how common is it?

A newborn clavicle fracture is a break in the baby’s collarbone that occurs during or shortly after delivery. Incidence estimates vary by study and population, but modern reports show a range roughly between 0.2% and 4.4% of live births (most large studies report rates well under 2–3%). Many clinicians treat these as relatively common and usually transient delivery injuries.

Estimated newborn clavicle fracture counts by U.S. state (based on 2023 births)

Method: CDC 2023 births (Table 6) × incidence rate. Numbers rounded to whole infants (except for very small counts shown with one decimal where <10). Source for births: Births: Final Data for 2023 (NCHS/CDC), Table 6.

State	2023 births (CDC)	Estimated clavicle fractures — Low (0.2%)	Mid (0.5%)	High (1.0%)
United States (total)	3,596,017	7,192	17,980	35,960
California	400,108	800	2,001	4,001
Texas	387,945	776	1,940	3,879
Florida	221,410	443	1,107	2,214
New York	203,612	407	1,018	2,036
Illinois	124,820	250	624	1,248
Pennsylvania	126,951	254	635	1,270
Ohio	126,896	254	635	1,269
Georgia	125,120	250	626	1,251
North Carolina	120,082	240	600	1,201
Michigan	99,124	198	496	991
New Jersey	101,001	202	505	1,010
Virginia	92,649	185	463	926
Washington	80,932	162	405	809
Arizona	78,096	156	390	781
Massachusetts	67,093	134	335	671
Indiana	79,000	158	395	790
Missouri	67,123	134	336	671
Tennessee	83,021	166	415	830
Minnesota	61,715	123	309	617
Colorado	61,494	123	307	615
Maryland	65,594	131	328	656
Wisconsin	59,754	120	299	598
South Carolina	57,729	115	289	577
Alabama	57,858	116	289	579
Connecticut	34,559	69	173	345
Louisiana	54,927	110	275	549
Kentucky	51,984	104	260	520
Oklahoma	47,909	96	240	479
Utah	45,019	90	225	450
Oregon	38,298	77	191	383
Iowa	36,052	72	180	361
Kansas	34,065	68	170	341
Arkansas	35,264	71	176	353
Nevada	31,794	64	159	318
Mississippi	34,459	69	172	345
Nebraska	24,111	48	121	241
New Mexico	20,951	42	105	210
West Virginia	16,606	33	83	166
Idaho	22,397	45	112	224
Hawaii	14,808	30	74	148
New Hampshire	11,936	24	60	119
Maine	11,627	23	58	116
Montana	11,078	22	55	111
Rhode Island	9,805	20	49	98
New Mexico	20,951	42	105	210
North Dakota	9,647	19	48	96
Alaska	9,015	18	45	90
Delaware	10,427	21	52	104
South Dakota	11,201	22	56	112
Wyoming	5,990	12	30	60
Vermont	5,065	10	25	51
District of Columbia	7,896	16	39	79

All numbers are rounded to the nearest whole infant for readability; for states with very small counts the table shows rounded integers.

Typical causes and risk factors

A newborn clavicle fracture most often happens during vaginal deliveries that are difficult — for example with shoulder dystocia, prolonged second stage of labor, large fetal size, or unusual maternal pelvic anatomy.

The fracture can occur even with appropriate care; sometimes it is unavoidable.
That said, excessive force, improper use of delivery maneuvers, or failure to anticipate risk factors could point toward negligence in some cases.

How is a newborn clavicle fracture diagnosed?

Signs include decreased movement or reluctance to move the affected arm, swelling or a palpable lump over the collarbone, and local tenderness.
Diagnosis is usually clinical and confirmed with X-ray or ultrasound if needed. Neonatal exam is critical because symptoms can be subtle.

How do you treat a newborn clavicle fracture?

Treatment for a newborn clavicle fracture is usually conservative:

• Gentle handling and avoiding pressure on the injured side,
• “Pinning” the sleeve to the baby’s clothing to limit movement for comfort,
• Short course of acetaminophen if advised by the pediatrician,
• Careful follow-up to ensure normal arm movement returns.

Most infants with a newborn clavicle fracture heal quickly with full recovery and no long-term disability. Immobilization and surgery are rarely needed in neonates.

Long-term consequences of a newborn clavicle fracture

Most newborn clavicle fracture cases resolve without lasting problems: bone heals rapidly and nerve or vascular complications are uncommon.
In rare situations where there is associated brachial plexus injury (e.g., Erb’s palsy) or if diagnosis/treatment is delayed, families may face longer-term physical therapy needs or functional deficits — and those cases attract larger malpractice concerns.

Medical vs legal perspective: personal injury vs medical malpractice

If your baby sustains a newborn clavicle fracture, two legal paths exist in general:

1. Personal injury
   claims (e.g., against a non-medical party) are uncommon for delivery fractures.
2. Medical malpractice claims are the relevant route when the fracture resulted from substandard medical care (failure to follow accepted obstetric standards).
   To win malpractice you generally must show: duty, breach of the standard of care, causation (that the breach caused the injury), and damages.
   Many newborn clavicle fracture cases do not meet that test because the fracture was unavoidable; others do when there is demonstrable negligence.

How much can you sue for a newborn clavicle fracture? — compensation ranges

There is no fixed amount for a newborn clavicle fracture.
Damages depend on severity, medical costs, need for future care, pain and suffering, and whether the fracture caused a permanent impairment or led to additional injuries (like brachial plexus palsy).

Examples from birth-injury case reporting show wide variation: some bone-injury matters are part of much larger settlements (multi-million dollar settlements when catastrophic injuries are present),

while isolated, uncomplicated newborn clavicle fracture claims that resolve quickly often produce modest settlements or no suit at all. Use caution interpreting settlement lists — many large verdicts involve multiple injuries beyond a simple clavicle break.

Small illustrative table — Examples of collarbone injury settlement values

Note: these are illustrative, drawn from public reporting of birth-injury cases; settlement amounts usually reflect combined injuries and circumstances rather than an isolated uncomplicated clavicle fracture.

Reported outcome	Example & context
Large multi-million settlement	Settlement reported at ~$9.9M in a birth injury matter involving fractures among other injuries (not solely an isolated clavicle).
Mid-range verdicts	Birth-injury verdicts for brachial plexus/Erb’s palsy (often related) sometimes show verdicts in the low-to-mid six figures.
Minimal/no long-term damages	Uncomplicated newborn clavicle fracture that heals without sequelae often results in limited economic damages (short-term care, parental stress) and may not proceed to trial.

What should you do if your baby has a newborn clavicle fracture?

1. Get clear medical documentation.
   Ask the pediatrician or hospital for notes, imaging, and any neonatal consults. Good records are essential.
2. Follow treatment and follow-up.
   Conservative management is common; ensure the baby is rechecked to confirm normal movement returns.
3. Take photos and notes.
   Date-stamped photos of swelling or any wound, and a written timeline of events and conversations, help later.
4. Preserve evidence.
   Keep hospital discharge papers, birth records, fetal monitoring strips (if available), and any correspondence.
5. Talk to a birth-injury attorney before deadlines.
   Statutes of limitations and special rules for minors vary by state; attorneys experienced in newborn injury can evaluate whether negligence likely occurred and protect time-sensitive rights.

When does a newborn clavicle fracture become a malpractice case?

Key red flags that suggest investigation:

• Documentation that the delivery team recognized shoulder dystocia and used inappropriate or excessive force;
• Lack of anticipated precautions when risk factors (large baby, prolonged labor) were present;
• Associated injuries (e.g., brachial plexus palsy) or delayed diagnosis leading to avoidable harm.

An attorney will often order independent medical review of records and may involve expert obstetric testimony to determine whether the standard of care was breached.

Realistic expectations

• Most newborn clavicle fracture cases heal fully with conservative care.
• Some cases (especially when accompanied by nerve injury, fractures plus other trauma, or clear evidence of improper force) can justify a malpractice claim and lead to substantial compensation.
• Outcomes depend heavily on medical records, expert opinions, and state law.

Final checklist (if your newborn has a suspected clavicle fracture)

• ✅ Ask the pediatrician for an explanation and written notes.
• ✅ Request imaging reports and copies of the birth record.
• ✅ Keep a contemporaneous journal of symptoms and appointments.
• ✅ Contact an experienced birth-injury attorney for a records review.
• ✅ Continue routine pediatric care and physical therapy if recommended.

Quick answer:

can you sue for a newborn clavicle fracture?
Short version: sometimes, if the fracture (or related harm) was caused by medical negligence rather than an unavoidable delivery complication, a medical-malpractice claim may be possible.

Whether to sue depends on the facts: how the injury happened, whether proper standards of care were followed, whether there are lasting problems, and your state’s malpractice rules. Consult a birth-injury attorney early to preserve evidence and meet deadlines.

This article is informational only and does not create an attorney-client or doctor-patient relationship. For medical questions about a specific baby, contact your pediatrician or neonatologist. For legal evaluation about a potential newborn clavicle fracture malpractice claim, consult a licensed birth-injury attorney in your state.