Primary Plating of Displaced Mid-shaft Clavicular Fractures

BackgroundRecent studies have shown that displaced mid-shaft clavicular fractures do not have assured favourable outcomes with non-operative management and nonunion rates could be as high as 20%. In addition many malunite with significant shortening. Non-union or malunion causes functional deficit and many of them may benefit from primary internal fixation.MethodsWe reviewed the results of twenty cases of displaced/comminuted midclavicular fractures, which were treated with primary open reduction and internal fixation with a reconstruction plate placed over the superior surface of clavicle.ResultAll the fractures clinically united by eight weeks. As per Rowe criterion 12 had excellent, six good and two fair results. On an average patients had full functional recovery in four months.ConclusionPrimary internal fixation of displaced comminuted mid-shaft clavicular fractures leads to predictable and early return to function thus preventing unacceptably high complication rates of nonoperative management of these fractures.