Lateral clavicle fracture-plating options and considerations

Clavicle fractures are among the most prevalent types of fractures with numerous treatment strategies that have evolved over time.In the realm of lateral-third clavicle fracture management,several surgical methods are available,with plate and screw constructs being one of the most frequently employed options.Within this construct,numerous choices exist for fixing the fracture.This editorial provides an overview of the common plate options utilized in the management of distal third clavicle fractures underscoring the critical considerations and approaches that guide clinicians in selecting the most appropriate fixation techniques,considering the complex landscape of clavicle fractures and their challenging management.

Distal clavicle fractures treated by anteroinferior plating with a single screw: Two case reports

BACKGROUND For the treatment of distal clavicle fractures,each treatment method has its own advantages and disadvantages,and there is no optimal surgical solution.CASE SUMMARY Based on this,we report 2 cases of distal clavicle fractures treated utilizing an anterior inferior plate with a single screw placed in the distal,in anticipation of providing a better surgical approach to distal clavicle fracture treatment.Two patients were admitted to the hospital after trauma with a diagnosis of distal clavicle fracture,and were admitted to the hospital for internal fixation of clavicle fracture by incision and reduction,with good postoperative functional recovery.CONCLUSION With solid postoperative fixation and satisfactory prognostic functional recovery,this technique has been shown to be simple,easy to perform and effective.

Late brachial plexopathy after a mid-shaft clavicle fracture:A case report

BACKGROUND Clavicle fractures can rarely be associated with brachial plexus injury.These are commonly caused by tractional injury at the time of trauma,but unfrequently can be caused by compression of the brachial plexus from excessive callus or granulation tissue formation.CASE SUMMARY We report a rare case of an adult male who sustained a mid-shaft clavicle fracture and had a late presentation of brachial plexus palsy due to compression from excessive callus formation.CONCLUSION We reported a case of a rare occurrence of delayed brachial plexus palsy due to compression from excessive callus formation in a midshaft clavicle fracture.Early diagnosis and surgical decompression of the brachial plexus is critical,as when managed efficiently,a full recovery of the brachial plexus palsy can be expected in these patients.

Erratum:Rates of readmission and reoperation after operative management of midshaft clavicle fractures in adolescents

This is an erratum to an already published paper.We found an error in the results section and Table 1.Specifically,we have revised results with n≤10 to be reflected as such,which is consistent with the reporting instructions by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.Please note,these changes do not affect our results,and we had previously listed this requirement in the results section.We apologize for our unintentional mistake.

Condensing osteitis of the clavicle in children

AIM: To confirm the rarity of this disorder and then to evaluate the effects of antibiotic treatment alone and assess whether this could produce a complete remission of symptoms in children and adolescents.METHODS: We made a retrospective review of all cases of condensing osteitis of the clavicle in children and adolescents between January 2007 and January 2016. Outpatient and inpatient medical records, with radiographs, magnetic resonance imaging, triphasic bone scan and computed tomography scans were retrospectively reviewed. All the patients underwent biopsy of the affected clavicle and were treated with intra venous(IV) antibiotics followed by oral antibiotics.RESULTS: Seven cases of condensing osteitis of the clavicle were identified. All the patients presented with swelling of the medial end of the clavicle, and 5 out of 7 reported persisting pain. The patients' mean age at presentation was 11.5 years(range 10.5-13). Biopsy confirmed the diagnosis in all cases. All the patients completed the treatment with IV and oral antibiotics. At last follow-up visit none of the patients complained of residual pain; all had a clinically evident reduction in the swelling of the medial end of the affected clavicle. The mean follow-up was 4 years(range 2-7).CONCLUSION: Our findings show that condensing osteitis of the clavicle is a rare condition. Biopsy is needed to confirm diagnosis. The condition should be managed with IV and oral antibiotics. Aggressive surgery should be avoided.

Fatal pulmonary embolism after surgery for a clavicle fracture: A case report

Patients undergoing upper extremity surgery generally have a low risk of pulmonary embolism. We encountered a rare case of fatal pulmonary embolism after surgical treatment of a clavicle fracture. A 46-year-old man fell off the roof of his car and suffered fractures of the left clavicle, temporal bone and ribs, as well as cerebral and lung contusions. He was admitted to a local hospital, and was later transferred to our hospital for surgical treatment of the clavicle fracture at 6 days after injury. He had no dyspnea and was ambulant. On day 7 after the injury, open reduction and internal fixation of the clavicle fracture using a plate and screws were performed under general anesthesia. Although surgery was uneventful, the patient had bradycardia postoperatively that progressed to cardiopulmonary arrest, which required resuscitation and intubation. Spontaneous cardiac output was restored 10 minutes after cardiac arrest, but the GCS score was E1V1M2. Enhanced CT of the chest revealed a 15 mm defect in the right pulmonary artery, leading to a diagnosis of pulmonary embolism. Thrombolytic therapy was started immediately. However, the patient’s condition worsened and he died 20 days postoperatively. We suggest that use of mechanical and chemical thromboprophylaxis should be considered for clavicle surgery.

Late Thoracic Outlet Syndrome after Clavicle Fractures in Patients with Multiple Trauma: A Pitfall of Conservative Treatment

Late thoracic outlet syndrome is a rare complication of clavicle fractures and usually warrants surgical treatment though its cause of clavicle fractures are a common injury and in most cases are treated conservatively. We report a case of a clavicle fracture accompanying severe multiple trauma, which was necessarily treated conservatively because of the severe associated injuries of the patient. The patient was unable to wear a figure-of-8 bandage for the fracture because of the need for complete supine bed rest, due to his other injuries. In this common situation, the clavicle fracture shortened and eventually resulted in the late thoracic outlet syndrome. We believe the cause of this was because a figure-of-8 bandage could not be applied due to the need for complete supine bed rest, and thus was inevitable because of his general condition. This case suggests that the conservative treatment of clavicle fractures, where there is the need for complete bed rest, potentially induces late thoracic outlet syndrome, and that this is indeed a pitfall in the treatment of clavicle fractures in multiple trauma.

Clavicle Hook Depth and Impingement Syndrome—A Cause-Effect Relationship

Background: Clavicular hook plates are effective fixation devices for lateral end clavicle fractures and acromioclavicular joint dislocations and have been extensively used in the last decade. Although this plate achieves a high percentage of union, there are concerns about sub-acromial osteolysis and impingement of supraspinatus tendon. Objective: To show that impingement of supraspinatus tendon can be prevented by measuring the depth between acromion and supraspinatus tendon posteriorly and using hook plates of appropriate depth. Materials and Methods: We performed a prospective study on 25 patients with lateral end clavicle fractures and acromio clavicular joint disruptions by measuring the depth between posterior border of acromion and the superior border of supraspinatus at the point of application of hook plate. Fixation is then done by appropriate sized hook plate. Results: None of the patients had impingement of supraspinatus tendon. Five patients developed subacromial osteolysis which did not have any impact on shoulder function. Conclusion: There is a variation in anatomy of the acromion in different ethnic groups. Hence uniform sized hook plate will be inappropriate. A smaller hook depth is needed in south Asian population to prevent impingement.

A Case of Ewing’s Sarcoma of the Clavicle in Adults

The Clavicle is a rare primary site for Ewing sarcoma (ES). We report one case of patient with clavicular ES under our tracking and review the related literatures on management of this rare tumor. The patient was age of 35 years and were non metastaticat presentation. The patient received chemotherapy before and after the surgery. Claviculectomy was used. The patient had good functional outcomes with no pain of the shoulder at the follow-up of ten months. In conclusion, Ewing sarcoma of clavicle is a very rare tumor and different methods of surgical treatment can be used. Clavicle often can be resected without a need of reconstruction.

Rates of readmission and reoperation after operative management of midshaft clavicle fractures in adolescents

The present letter to the editor is a commentary on the study titled“Rates of readmission and reoperation after operative management of midshaft clavicle fractures in adolescents”.There is a debate over whether surgical treatment of clavicle shaft fractures improves clinical outcomes in adolescents.The readmission and reoperation rates following surgery should be identified.

Surgical treatment of bipolar segmental clavicle fracture:A case report

BACKGROUND Shoulder injuries caused by trauma are common,including clavicle fractures.Even so,bipolar segmental fracture of the clavicle is extremely rare and seldom reported.Therefore,there is still a controversial issue about how to treat these bipolar segmental clavicle fractures.CASE SUMMARY A 56-year-old security guard arrived at our emergency room after falling on his electric bicycle.There was no loss of consciousness or other pain.He had no numbness in his fingers.X-rays and 3D computed tomography revealed that the patient’s right shoulder had a bipolar segmental clavicle fracture.The surgical procedure included both open reduction and internal fixation.At the 1-year follow-up,he had a full range of motion and minimal discomfort in the injured shoulder.CONCLUSION We provide a rare case of bipolar clavicle facture in the right clavicle.We hold the opinion that such patients would get better clinical and radiological outcomes by early and correct operation.

Rates of readmission and reoperation after operative management of midshaft clavicle fractures in adolescents

BACKGROUND The national rates of readmission and reoperation after open reduction internal fixation(ORIF)of midshaft clavicle fractures in adolescents is unknown.AIM To determine rates of and risk factors for readmission and reoperation after ORIF of midshaft clavicle fractures in adolescents.METHODS This retrospective study utilized data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Inpatient Database for California and Florida and included 11728 patients 10–18 years of age that underwent ORIF of midshaft clavicle fracture between 2005 and 2012.Readmissions within ninety days,reoperations within two years,and differences in patient demographic factors were determined through descriptive,univariate,and multivariate analyses.RESULTS In total,3.29%(n=11)of patients were readmitted within 90 d to a hospital at an average of 18.91±18 d after discharge,while 15.87%(n=53)of patients underwent a reoperation within two years at an average of 209.53±151 d since the index surgery.The most common reason for readmission was a postoperative infection(n<10).Reasons for reoperation included implant removal(n=49)at an average time of 202.39±138 d after surgery,and revision ORIF(n<10)with an average time of 297±289 d after index surgery.The odds of reoperation were higher for females(P<0.01)and outpatients(P<0.01),while the odds of reoperation were lower for patients who underwent surgery in California(P=0.02).CONCLUSION There is a low rate of readmission and a high rate of reoperation after ORIF for midshaft clavicle fractures in adolescents.There are significant differences for reoperation based on patient sex,location,and hospital type.

Finite element analysis of the treatment of middle clavicle fracture with wing plate internal fixation

Objective:To investigate the mechanical properties of a new type of biplane locking plate with wings in the treatment of middle clavicle fractures.Methods:Based on the CT data of a healthy adult male volunteer’s clavicle,a three-dimensional finite element model of the middle clavicle fracture was constructed by digital three-dimensional reconstruction technology,and the two kinds of fixation methods of single-plane locking plate(SP)and wing plate(WP)were simulated.Four load cases of axial compression,axial torsion,cantilever bending and pull-out were used to analyze the models.Results:①Under axial compression,axial torsion,cantilever bending and pull-out conditions,compared with SP,the stiffness phase of WP increased by 1.47%,5.82%,1.51%and 3.96%respectively,and the strain energy decreased by 1.50%,5.39%,1.48%and 3.49%respectively.②The stress distribution characteristics of WP under various load conditions were similar to SP,and the high stress area was located around the screw hole of the steel plate above the fracture gap;③Under the pull-out condition of WP,the peak value of screw hole surface stress was greatly reduced compared with SP,especially in the screw hole on both sides of the wing screws,which had higher resistance to pull out.Conclusion:The load-bearing mode of WP under various load conditions is similar to that of SP,and the stability is slightly higher than that of SP and in terms of pull-out resistance,WP has more obvious advantages.The biplane locking plate with wings is expected to be a more ideal choice for patients with comminuted fracture of the middle clavicle or with osteoporosis.

Posterior Positioning of a Clavicle Hook Plate Is a Risk Factor for Acromial Fractures after Acromioclavicular Joint Dislocation

Purpose: Acromioclavicular (AC) joint dislocation is commonly treated using a clavicle hook plate (HP). However, previous reports have indicated that acromial fractures may occur after HP fixation. The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors for acromial fractures. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 39 patients with AC joint dislocation who were treated using clavicle HP fixation in our hospital between 2006 and 2017. Related parameters, including Rockwood classification, hook angle, the degree of reduction, the coverage of the hook under the acromion, and the anteroposterior position of the hook under the acromion, were evaluated to identify risk factors for acromial fractures. Results: The mean age of the participants was 51.7 (range 19 - 81) years;34 were men and 5 were women. Injury occurred on the right side in 18 patients and on the left side in 21. Injuries were categorized as follows: 24 were Rockwood type III, one was type IV, and 14 were type V. Four of the 39 patients (10%) experienced acromial fractures. Statistical analyses indicated that the degree of reduction at the final follow-up was moderately correlated with the Constant score. Posterior positioning of the hook was the only identified risk factor for acromial fractures. Hook angle and the degree of reduction at the time of surgery were not significantly associated with acromial fractures. Conclusions: Postoperative shoulder function was associated with the degree of reduction at the final follow-up, suggesting that anatomical reduction is recommended for AC joint dislocation. Posterior positioning of the hook is a risk factor for acromial fractures;however, clavicle HP fixation provides a positive outcome for AC joint dislocation. Therefore, careful positioning of the hook is required for preventing acromial fractures.

Radiography of Clavicle Fractures— A Review of the Literature —Do Various Radiographic Views of Clavicle Fractures Affect the Management Plan?

Introduction: Fractures of the clavicle are common and make up 5% - 10% of all fractures. Treatment options in part depend on the location of the fracture along the bone and degree of displacement. These two parameters are best determined by good quality, standardized radiographs of the clavicle. We reviewed the literature to determine the optimal radiographs of clavicle fractures and their influence on the treatment plan. Methods: A comprehensive search of Medline? database was undertaken with the following search terms and MeSH headings: clavicle, fractures, bone, radiography, and X-ray. We included articles in English published from 1950 to present. We ruled out fractures in children, fracture dislocations, open fractures, those with neurological and vascular injuries and fractures involving the acromioclavicular or sternoclavicular joints. Findings: Of the 821 citations obtained, only four studies proved eligible. In the most pertinent, four orthopaedic surgeons were shown standard views (antero-posterior and 20&#176;cephalic tilt) of 50 clavicle fractures and then additional two views (45&#176;cephalic and caudal tilt), and found that alternative views influenced their decision making, with more surgeons opting for surgical fixation. In a different study, it was shown that orthogonal views of the clavicle increased surgeons’ understanding and improved their treatment of these fractures. The third paper was a case series on clavicle fractures that were missed on the initial antero-posterior radiograph, and the fourth paper postulated that postero-anterior views of the thorax were most accurate in determining length of the clavicle. Conclusion: Studies showing an optimal view for assessment of clavicle fractures with a decision to then progressing to operative fixation are few, but the evidence points towards surgical fixation when alternative views of mid-shaft clavicle fractures are present.

Treatment of Displaced Mid-Clavicle Fractures by Closed Titanium Elastic Nail

Introduction: Recently, intramedullary nailing for displaced middle third fractures of clavicle has received wide attention. Though open nailing has been widely described, closed nailing finds less mention. This paper therefore aims to study the outcome of closed titanium elastic nailing for displaced mid-clavicular fractures. Material and Methods: This was a prospective study of 34 patients with displaced middle third clavicle fracture who underwent closed intramedullary nailing with titanium elastic nail at a tertiary care centre. The operative time, length of incision, time for radiological union, pain and functional outcome after union were noted. Results: The mean operative time was 34.33 mins. The mean time of discharge was 2.25 days. The average time of radiological union was 10.23 weeks. All the patients achieved full, painless range of motion of the ipsilateral shoulder. The average Constant-Murley score at 12 months was 94.28 indicating excellent result. Conclusion: Closed titanium elastic nailing offers a safe and minimally invasive method of fixation for fractures of middle-third clavicle with excellent functional outcome.

Study of treatment of scapular fractures with associated clavicle fractures

To explore the treatment methods for scapular fractures associated with clavicle fractures.Methods Of 23 cases with scapular fractures associated with clavicle fractures,13 treated conservatively took the function exercise of shoulder joint after two months and 10 treated with open reduction and plate fixation reconstruction began the function exercise of shoulder joint four weeks after operation.The follow up averaged 12 months.Results All patients were healed up.18 cases were followed up,of them 8 cases were treated surgically,10 cases,conservatively.Of eight cases treated surgically,seven got excellent functional recovery of the shoulder joint and one satisfactory.In the meantime,of 10 cases treated conservatively,the recovery of shoulder joint was excellent in six,good in three and poor in one.Conclusion As for scapular fractures with associated clavicle fractures,open reduction and plate fixation reconstruction is a good treatment method for it can keep the stability and the balance of shoulder joint and is helpful for early functional exercise and recovery of the shoulder joint.7 refs,5 figs.

Multidisciplinary approaches for clavicle fracture with neurovascular injuries:A case report

To the Editor:Neurovascular injury is an uncommon complication of clavicle fractures,and occurs in at most 1%of all clavicle fractures.Neurovascular injury is mostly caused by high-energy blunt injury to the clavicle.[1]Because its symptoms are less prominent,these vascular injuries are easily neglected and may result in severe consequences.However,few studies have reported a standardized management for this rare trauma.Here,we present a case of a 30-year-old man who suffered an open clavicle fracture with acute subclavian artery and brachial plexus injuries.After treating this case,we concluded that neurovascular examinations and multidisciplinary therapeutic strategies are urgently needed for clavicle fractures with associated neurovascular injury.The authors certify that they have obtained the patient’s consent to the publication of information about him in a journal or thesis.The information will be published without the patient’s name attached and every attempt will be made to ensure anonymity.

Estimation of Sex by Applying Discriminant Function Analysis on Osteo-metric Parameters of Clavicle in Population of Haryana

It is important to pinpoint the identity of the deceased in scenarios such as decomposed bodies,skeletonized remains,mutilated remains,exhumed dead bodies,and in mass disasters.There are many important parameters to establish the identity of a person.The estimation of sex is one of them.Estimation of sex from bones is easy when the whole skeleton is available,but it becomes difficult when the body is mutilated and only parts of the body or bones are available.The present study is undertaken to estimate the sex by applying discriminant function analysis(DFA)on various osteo-metric parameters of the clavicle in the population of Haryana.Two hundred pairs of clavicles were collected from the bodies brought for autopsy.They were macerated and air dried for the removal of soft tissues.Seven variables of clavicle of both sexes were measured and analyzed using the analysis of variance test which provided descriptive statistics.DFA of the values helped in sexing of the clavicle.Estimation of sex from different parameters of the clavicle was possible with overall accuracy of 93%in original and 92.5%in crossvalidated cases among total cases.Accuracy was 96%and 90%in original and 96%and 89%in cross validated cases among males and females respectively,indicating a strong correlation in estimation of sex of a person from the clavicle.The most important parameters to determine the sex from the clavicle are length of clavicle,mid clavicular circumference of clavicle,weight of clavicle,transverse diameter of lateral end of right clavicle,and longitudinal diameter of medial end of the left clavicle.

The Treatment of Mid-shaft Clavicle Fractures

Objective： Through reviewing the relevant literature from the past decades, to summarize the assessment and management of fractures of the clavicle, and provide an overview of the clinical results of a range of treatment options. Data Sources： The data analyzed in this review are mainly from articles included in PubMed and EMBASE, published from 1960 to 2015. Study Selection： Studies involving assessment of fractures of the clavicle were reviewed. Further literatures were gathered regarding the conservative and surgical treatment of these fractures, including the methods of fixation and the surgical approaches used. Both conservative and surgical treatments were then compared and contrasted. Results： Through retrieving and reading the abstract, a total of 42 representative articles were selected, which covered all aspects of the conservative treatment and surgical treatment, and compared the advantages and disadvantages of different treatment options. Conclusions： Although the majority of recent data suggest that surgery may be more appropriate as it improves functional outcome and reduces the risk of complications, we recommend that the treatment should be individually assessed.