Non-operative Management of a Rare Segmental Clavicle Fracture in an Adolescent Patient: A Case Report

Abstract

A 12-year-old Caucasian male presented to the clinic with a displaced, segmental left clavicle fracture involving the distal clavicle after falling from a zip line. He was treated non-operatively in a sling and returned to normal activities without restrictions after three months. At one year, the patient was able to maintain his pre-injury baseline function without limitations of his left shoulder. While no clear guidelines for operative treatment of segmental clavicle fractures in the adolescent population exist in the current literature, this report illustrates an excellent patient outcome following conservative therapy of a segmental clavicle fracture involving the middle one-third and distal clavicle in a young adolescent with open physis.