Functional Outcome Following Anatomical Locking Compression Plate by Open Technique and Minimal Invasive Percutaneous Osteosynthesis (Mipo) Technique in Mid Shaft Clavicle Fracture

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Clavicle fractures are common injuries in adults, accounting for 5% of all fractures and 44% of all shoulder fractures. Furthermore, there is an increasing incidence of complex fracture patterns after high-energy trauma. Incidence in males is usually highest in second and third decade which decreases thereafter as per age. Clavicles mid shaft fractures have classically been treated non-operatively. However, factors including severity of displacement, degree of comminution, and greater than 2 cm of shortening have been reported in the literature to predispose patients to unsatisfactory outcomes with non-operative treatment. Minimally invasive surgery is increasingly being used for the treatment of mid shaft clavicle fracture. The two most commonly used implant are titanium elastic nail (TEN) and locking compression plate (LCP). Minimally invasive percutaneous plate osteosynthesis (MIPPO) is widely used for long bone fracture.
 MATERIAL AND METHODS: The patients were selected randomly and were divided in the following two groups of 15 patients each: Group A: 15 patients treated by anatomical locking compression plate (LCP) by open technique. Group B: 15 patients treated by minimal invasive percutaneous osteosynthesis (MIPO) technique. Follow up period were 1 months, 2months and 6months. Functional outcome was evaluated using the constant shoulder score, which is scored from 0 to 100, with a lower score representing a higher level of functional disability.
 RESULTS: Majority of the patients (40%) in Group A were in the age group of 31-40 years followed by 26.7% in the age group of 21-30 years, 20% in the age group 41-50 years and 13.3% in the age group of 51-60 years. The mean age of the patients was 36.2 ± 9.09 years. Majority of the patients in both groups were male. There were 80% and 73.3% male patients in Group A and Group B respectively whereas female patients constituted 20% and 26.7% of the study group respectively. In Group A, 7 (46.7%) patients had operative time of 80-100 minutes whereas 6 (40%) and 2 (13.3%) patients had operative time of 100-120 and 120-140 minutes respectively. The mean operative time was 104.9 ± 13.52mins. In Group B, 6 (40%) patients had operative time of 80-100 minutes whereas 8 (53.4%) and 1 (6.6%) patients had operative time of 100-120 and 120-140 minutes respectively. The mean operative time was 106.5 ± 11.72mins. There was no significant association between the groups as per Student t-test (p>0.05).
 CONCLUSION: Operative treatment with a LCP for clavicle shaft fractures can be used to obtain stable fixation. Particularly, MIPPO of displaced mid shaft clavicular fractures resulted in a better cosmetic than conventional open reduction, although the functional outcomes were no different between the two groups.