J Orthop Trauma 1998 National Library of Medicine: IGM Full Record Screen


TITLE: Mid-clavicle fractures in adults: end result study after conservative treatment.
AUTHORS: Nordqvist A; Petersson CJ; Redlund-Johnell I
AUTHOR AFFILIATION: Department of Orthopaedics, Lund University, Malmo University Hospital, Sweden.
SOURCE: J Orthop Trauma 1998 Nov-Dec;12(8):572-6
CITATION IDS: PMID: 9840792 UI: 99054527
ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to analyze the long-term outcome of mid-clavicle fractures in adults and to evaluate the clinical importance of displacement and fracture comminution. DESIGN: Two hundred twenty-five mid-clavicular fractures that had been nonsurgically treated at Malmo University Hospital were retrospectively evaluated, both clinically and radiographically, an average of seventeen years after injury. There were seventy-one undisplaced fractures, sixty-nine displaced two-fragment fractures, and eighty-five displaced and comminuted fractures. The average patient age at the time of trauma was thirty-three years (range 15 to 70 years). Patients were interviewed, and careful clinical and radiological examination of their shoulders was performed. Two patients had experienced transient neuritis, and another two underwent operative treatment because of progressive neuropathy. SETTING: All 225 consecutive patients were treated primarily at the Malmo University Hospital, which serves the Malmo city population (250,000). PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: Since the beginning of this century, all radiographs taken at the Malmo University Hospital have been classified and filed for easy retrieval. In this retrospective study, all patients treated between 1970 and 1979 were identified, and those still living were called for follow-up examination. INTERVENTION: Of the 225 fractures reviewed, 197 fractures were originally treated with a figure-of-eight splint for an average period of three weeks without any attempt to reduce the displaced fractures; twenty-four patients were allowed immediate free shoulder mobilization. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Clinical rating and healing were the main outcome measurements. RESULTS: At follow-up, 185 shoulders were asymptomatic. Thirty-nine shoulders had moderate pain and were rated as fair, and one patient was rated as poor. One hundred twenty-five of the fractures had healed normally, fifty-three were malunited with persistent fracture displacement, and seven were nonunions; nonunion was significantly more prevalent in cases with displaced fractures. Forty malunited fractures and three nonunions were rated as good. CONCLUSIONS: This review demonstrates that few patients with fractures of the mid-part of the clavicle require operative treatment.
MAIN MESH HEADINGS: Clavicle/*injuries
Fractures/*therapy
ADDITIONAL MESH HEADINGS: Adolescence
Adult
Aged
Female
Fractures/surgery
Fractures, Comminuted/surgery
Fractures, Comminuted/therapy
Human
Male
Middle Age
Retrospective Studies
Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Treatment Outcome
PUBLICATION TYPES: JOURNAL ARTICLE
LANGUAGES: Eng