Acta Orthop Traumatol Turc. 2002;36(1):7-11.

[Results of conservative treatment of displaced mid-clavicular fractures in adults].

[Article in Turkish]

Karaoğlu S¹, Duygulu F, Kabak S, Baktir A.

Author information

1: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology (Ortopedi ve Travmatoloji Anabilim Dali), Medicine Faculty of Erciyes University, 38039 Kayseri, Turkey. sinankaraoglu@hotmail.com

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

We evaluated the mid-term results of conservative treatment of mid-clavicular fractures in adults.

METHODS:

Eighty-five patients (60 males, 25 females; mean age 36 years; range 19-61 years) with mid-clavicular fractures were treated conservatively with a figure-of-eight bandage method. Radiographically, 72 fractures were displaced and of two fragments, 13 were displaced and comminuted. Clinical and radiologic results were evaluated after a mean follow-up of 35 months (range 12 to 72 months).

RESULTS:

In 84 patients, union was achieved by conservative treatment. Only one patient required surgical treatment. Malunion occurred in seven patients. Clinically, the results were good in 68 (94.4%), moderate in three patients (4.1%), and poor in one patient (1.3%) in two-fragment fractures. Of comminuted fractures, the results were good in 10 (76.9%), and moderate in three patients (23.1%). No significant differences were found between the clinical results.

CONCLUSION:

Conservative treatment of displaced mid-clavicular fractures provide union, making surgical treatment indicated only in a small number of patients with unsatisfactory results.