Social Media Perspectives on Clavicle Fractures: A Content Analysis of Instagram Posts From Patients and Surgeons

Introduction Both clinicians and patients use social media platforms like Instagram to share images and insights about clavicle fractures, although the content and its alignment with clinical practice may vary. While most stable clavicle fractures are managed nonoperatively, social media posts may disproportionately highlight less common treatment options. This study aimed to evaluate the content and themes related to clavicle fractures shared by patients and surgeons on Instagram. Methods An Instagram search was conducted using the three most common hashtags related to clavicle fractures: #ClavicleFracture, #BrokenCollarbone, and #BrokenClavicle. A total of 1,500 posts from January 2021 to January 2024 were analyzed, consisting of the first 500 posts from each hashtag. Data collected for each post included the number of likes, comments, and followers, as well as image content, post type, treatment approach (operative vs. nonoperative), tone, and source type (surgeon vs. patient). Surgeon and patient posts were compared, while posts without a specified author were excluded. Results A total of 1,083 posts were included in the study, with 210 (20%) from surgeons and 873 (80%) from patients. Surgeons were more likely to use the hashtag #ClavicleFracture, whereas patients favored the other hashtags (p < 0.001). X-rays comprised 54% of surgeon posts, compared to 23% of patient posts. Patients were significantly more likely to share images of skin, slings, or reflective photos (p < 0.001). Surgeon posts were primarily educational, while patient posts tended to be more reflective. Most surgeon posts conveyed a positive tone, whereas patient posts were more likely to have a negative tone (p < 0.001). Regarding treatment depiction, 75% of surgeon posts featured operative treatment, whereas only 33% of patient posts did, with the majority (60%) not specifying their treatment outcome (p < 0.001). Conclusions The content and language used in Instagram posts about clavicle fractures differ between surgeons and patients. Surgeons are more likely to use technical jargon, share X-rays, provide educational content, adopt a positive tone, and focus on operative treatment. However, their posts generally receive lower social media engagement compared to those by patients.