Operative Treatment of the Displaced Clavicle Shaft Fracture in Adult

Kim, Ig Gon; Kim, Jae Hyek; Kim, Chul Hyun; Hwang, Ryong

Abstract

Clavicle fracture is one of the most common fracture, which had been managed via conservative methods with some exceptions such as nonunion. Operative treatment had been regarded as an important cause of nonunion and poor outcome. Nowadays, however, the goal of fracture treatment has become anatomical reduction, rigid fixation and early rehabilitation for better final results. We managed 43 clavicular shaft fracture which was displaced above 11mm, with conservative treatment (23 cases) and operative treatment (20 cases) since 1990 to 1995. All patients achieved good union in both group, except 5 nonunions of conservative treatment and no significant difference in union time. By functional evaluation of shoulder by Weitzman, final results were excellent in 17, good in 2 cases, fair in 1 case with operative treatment and excellent in 12, good in 4, fair in 3 and poor in 4 cases with conservative treatment. It was concluded that early operative treatment of clavicular shaft fracture showed better result than conservative treatment, especially in displaced and comminuted ones.