Most frequently fractured bone of the body?

• A. Clavicle
• B. Femur
• C. Radius
• D. Tibia

Answer: (A)

The clavicle is most frequently fractured because it lies just beneath the skin along the shoulder, so a fall or blow directly transmits force to it. The middle third of the clavicle is the narrowest and least protected, making fractures there the most common. As a rigid strut between the sternum and scapula, the clavicle bears transmission of load from the upper limb to the trunk, especially in a fall on the shoulder or a fall on an outstretched hand, which predisposes this region to breakage.

While other bones can fracture under stress (the femur is unusually strong and resists breakage, and the radius and tibia can fracture in various injuries), the clavicle’s superficial position and anatomical structure make it the most vulnerable and hence the most frequently fractured bone.