Fractures of the Clavicle: An Overview

Abstract

Fractures of the clavicle are a common injury and most often occur in younger individuals. For the most part, they have been historically treated conservatively with acceptable results. However, over recent years, more and more research is showing that operative treatment may decrease the rates of fracture complications and increase functional outcomes. This article first describes the classification of clavicle fractures and then reviews the literature over the past decades to form a conclusion regarding the appropriate management.A thorough literature review was performed on assessment of fractures of the clavicle, their classification and the outcomes following conservative treatment. Further literature was gathered regarding the 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.The majority of recent data suggests that operative treatment may be more appropriate as it improves functional outcome and reduces the risk of complications such as non-union. This is particularly evident in mid shaft fractures, although more high grade evidence is needed to fully recommend this, especially regarding certain fractures of the medial and lateral clavicle.

Deep vein thrombosis in the axillary and brachial vein after a midshaft clavicular fracture: A Case Report

“…Clavicular fractures are common and occur in 2,6-4% of all fractures in the adult [1][2][3]. The dominant etiologies are sport injuries, traffic accidents and falls.…”

Reliability of the Robinson classification for displaced comminuted midshaft clavicular fractures

“…The Robinson classification has been stated to provide the most reliable prognostic information compared to the other classification methods for midshaft clavicular fractures [12,5]. We found no other studies on the reliability of classification systems for clavicular fractures to compare our data with.…”

What do Head and Neck Surgery and Orthopedics have in Common? An Unusual Case of Metallic Foreign Body

“…The location and pattern of injury are of considerable importance when formulating a management plan. The majority of clavicle fractures are treated non-operatively with good outcomes[1][2][3][4]. Recently there has been an trend towards an increased rate of operative intervention, particularly in lateral-shaft fractures as in our case.Volume 4 • Issue 1 • 1000229 J Trauma Treat ISSN: 2167-1222 JTM, an open access journal…”