Clinical Outcomes of Plate Fixation Compared with Non-operative Treatment of Displaced Mid-shaft Clavicular Fractures in Adults

Abstract

Background: Clavicle fractures are representing 2.6% of total body fractures. The common fracture is the midshaft fracture of the clavicle. The outcomes of non-operative treatment are not preferred nowadays, so the trend to surgical treatment of these fractures has grown. The aim of the work:The current study aimed to compare the outcomes of conservative and operative treatment of displaced midshaft clavicular fractures with plate fixation to clarify the merits and possible disadvantages of each method.Patients and Methods: Twenty patients as a convenient sample were included. These patients were subdivided into two groups, group I for conservative treatment and group II for operative treatment with plate fixation. All patients will be subjected to complete history taking, clinical, general &local examination, a standard anteroposterior view of the clavicle was done and follow up average 6 months.Results: At the end of follow up period, according to Constant Shoulder Score (CSS), 11 patients had excellent results (CSS: < 11), 4 patients had good results (CSS: 11-20), 3 patients had fair results (CSS: 21-30), 2 patients had poor results (CSS: >30). Pain VAS was significantly higher in group I compared with group II. There is a significant difference found between the groups as regard (outcome, pain VAS, the strength of abduction and the extent of internal rotation) P value < 0.05. There is no significant difference found between the groups as regard (socio-demographic data, comorbidities, fracture characteristics, fractures classification, degree of forward flexion, degree of lateral elevation and extent of lateral rotation) P value >0.05. Conclusion:Operative treatment with plate fixation is better than conservative treatment in management of pain, high union rate, good functional outcomes and greater patients satisfactory after displaced mid shaft clavicular fractures.

Comparative Study of Operative and Non-Operatively Treated Displaced Mid-Shaft Clavicle Fractures in Adults

“…However, previous studies show the road accidents as the main cause of injury as found in 70% of the cases 16 . Another study showed bicycle accidents as one of the main causes of mid-shaft clavicle fractures [17][18] . The constant score in our study varies with the passage of time as after 3 months' follow-up it was found that the constant score in our study was between 60-100.…”