Treatment of midshaft clavicular nonunion with plate fixation and autologous bone grafting.
We studied the results of 16 consecutive midshaft clavicular nonunions operated on at the Shoulder and Elbow Clinic during the period from 1990 to 1993. All patients were treated with rigid 3.5 mm plate fixation and autologous cancellous bone grafting. Union of the fractures was achieved in all except one case, with a reconstruction ratio (restoration of bone length) of 0.96 (range 0.88 to 1.03). At follow-up 12 of 16 patients had returned to their preinjury activity level and according to the Constant score had obtained an excellent result. Two patients were graded as good, one as fair, and one had a failure. Thirteen of 16 patients were satisfied with the cosmetic outcome, assessing their cosmetic result as either good or excellent. Rigid plate fixation and restoration of clavicular length with autologous cancellous bone graft is recommended for the treatment of symptomatic clavicular midshaft nonunions.
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University Hospital of Aarhus, Denmark.
B S
BS
Olsen
M T
MT
Vaesel
J O
JO
Søjbjerg
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001860:Bone Plates; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D002968:Clavicle / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal; D017102:Fracture Healing; D005599:Fractures, Ununited / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome