title: Operative treatment of clavicular nonunion.
abstract: Twelve patients treated for clavicular nonunion mainly with plate fixation and bone grafting were reviewed in order to evaluate the treatment. Follow-up was a median of 41 months (20-117). Nine out of 12 patients achieved a good end result, but the primary treatment failed in half of the cases, probably because of short (4-hole) semitubular plates and insufficient postoperative immobilization. We conclude that 4-hole semitubular plates cannot be recommended for treating clavicular nonunion because of a high risk of failure. Sufficient postoperative immobilization should follow plate fixation. If this is respected, plate fixation with bone grafting appears as a good method for treating clavicular nonunion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Hellerup, Denmark.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Poulsen
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Thomsen
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kristiansen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001860:Bone Plates; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D002968:Clavicle / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005599:Fractures, Ununited / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017211:Treatment Failure