Midshaft clavicular non-unions treated with the Herbert cannulated bone screw.
OBJECTIVE
To assess an alternative technique for the treatment of midshaft non-unions of the clavicle.


METHODS
Five patients with symptomatic non-unions of the clavicle were treated with open reduction and intramedullary fixation by using a Herbert cannulated bone screw. Autogenous bone grafting was applied in one case and decortication in the other 4 cases.


RESULTS
Review of the clinical and radiological documentation at a mean time of 13 months (range, 9-26 months) postoperatively shows that union was achieved in all 5 cases. There were no complications related to the operation, and no patient needed removal of the implant for protrusion, loosening, or any other cause.


CONCLUSIONS
Midshaft non-unions of the clavicle can be treated successfully using the Herbert cannulated bone screw, which avoids the need for a second operation to remove the implant after bone union.
Proubasta
I R
IR
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hospital de Sant Pau, 08025 Barcelona, Spain. iproubasta@hsp.santpau.es
Itarte
J P
JP
Lamas
C G
CG
Cáceres
E
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001863:Bone Screws; D002968:Clavicle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D004867:Equipment Design; D004869:Equipment Safety; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000502:physiology; D005599:Fractures, Ununited / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012494:Sampling Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome