title: Performance of military tasks after clavicle plating.
abstract: Management of displaced midshaft clavicle fractures in the military, a largely shoulder-bearing population, is controversial. We aimed to report the military-relevant functional outcomes after plate fixation. We performed a nested cross-sectional analysis of active duty service members enrolled in an ongoing multicenter, randomized trial on clavicle plating. For this analysis, we included subjects with 26 months follow-up. Outcome measures included radiographic appearance, physical examination, a military-specific questionnaire, and validated shoulder surveys. Mean follow-up for 28 clavicle fractures was 13 months. Union rate by 12 weeks was 93% (26/28). There was one case of soft tissue irritation requiring hardware removal. At latest follow-up, 75% of patients were satisfied; 68% had mild/no pain; 79% had full range of motion; 75% could perform push-ups; and 21% have deployed. For the majority of active duty personnel, rapid healing, return to military-specific tasks, and satisfaction with outcome are possible after plate fixation of clavicle fractures. However, approximately 25% report some functional limitations at 1 year.
authors: Brooke Army Medical Center, 3851 Roger Brooke Drive, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234, USA.
authors: Jeannie
authors: J
authors: Huh
authors: Matthew A
authors: MA
authors: Posner
authors: Russell R
authors: RR
authors: Bear
authors: Rahul
authors: R
authors: Banerjee
authors: Brett D
authors: BD
authors: Owens
authors: Joseph R
authors: JR
authors: Hsu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001860:Bone Plates; D002968:Clavicle / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008887:Military Medicine; D008889:Military Personnel; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult