The clavicle, commonly called the collarbone, is generally cited as the most commonly broken bone in the human body.
Why the collarbone breaks often
The clavicle is long, relatively thin, and sits in a prominent position between the shoulder and chest, so it absorbs a lot of force when someone falls or has a collision. People often land on an outstretched arm or directly on the shoulder during sports or falls, which transmits force through the arm to the clavicle and causes it to fracture.
Other commonly broken bones
Other bones that are frequently broken include:
- Bones of the arm (especially the humerus and forearm bones).
- Wrist bones, particularly the distal radius.
- Hip, ankle, and foot bones, especially in older adults or active individuals.
