title: [Clinical controlled trial on the treatment of comminuted clavicular fracture with acromioclavicular external fixator and clavicle anatomic DCP internal fixation].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the different therapeutic effects of comminuted clavicular fracture with acromioclavicular external fixtatior and DCP internal fixation.
  
  
  METHODS
  There were 768 cases of comminuted clavicular fracture involved in the study. Among them, 528 patients (321 male and 207 female, aged from 15 to 82 years) treated with acromioclavicular external fixator, in which there were 165 cases of three parts fracture and 363 cases of more than three parts fracture; 240 patients (152 males and 88 females, aged from 17 to 64 years) treated with the internal fixation, in which there were 178 cases of three parts fracture and 62 cases of more than three parts fracture. The time between injury and treatment was 1.3 days (range, 2 h to 8 days). The results were evaluated according to Neer scoring system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the cases were followed up from 8 to 24 months. For treatment of fracture more than three parts, there was significant difference between acromioclavicular external fixation group and internal fixation group in nonunion rate (chi2=44.17, P<0.05) and in Neer scores (t=5.284, P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment with DCP internal fixation which matching the AO principles can obtain anatomic reduction, firm fixation and early functional exercise; however, treatment with self-designed acromioclavicular external fixator is an ideal therapeutic method as it has, early union of the fracture and good functional outcome with seldom complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Taizhou Hospital Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical College, Linhai 317000, Zhejiang, China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Hai-xiao
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Lie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Wei-fu
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Fu-ping
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Jun-bo
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Zhong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002968:Clavicle / Q000293:injuries*; D016267:External Fixators; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods*; D018460:Fractures, Comminuted / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged