The role of autologous bone graft in surgical treatment of hypertrophic nonunion of midshaft clavicle fractures.
BACKGROUND
This study was conducted to evaluate the results of treating hypertrophic nonunion of mid-shaft clavicle fracture with a limited contact dynamic compression plate (LC-DCP) without autologous cancellous bone graft.


METHODS
From 1995 to 2008, 51 cases of hypertrophic nonunion of mid-shaft clavicle fracture were managed with open reduction and internal fixation by LC-DCP without bone graft involvement. Of these 51 cases, 30 had nonunion after failure of initial surgical treatment (Group 1), and 21 had nonunion after failure of conservative treatment (Group 2). Preoperative and postoperative case management were the same for both groups, with the average follow-up period being 20.4 months (range 18-36). Our study evaluated the radiographic results and functional outcomes of these cases according to the quick disability of arm, shoulder, and hand score.


RESULTS
All 51 cases resulted in uneventful unions. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups regarding patient demography, cause of injury, preoperative and postoperative functional scores, length of operation, union time, and duration of hospitalization (p>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
LC-DCP fixation is an effective method for treating hypertrophic nonunion of mid-shaft clavicle fracture. Local bone graft is sufficient to achieve necessary union, and autologous bone graft from other sites of the body appears unnecessary.
Department of Orthopaedics, Taipei Veterans General Hospital & National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
Hui-Kuang
HK
Huang
Chao-Ching
CC
Chiang
Shih-Hsin
SH
Hung
Yu-Ping
YP
Su
Fang-Yao
FY
Chiu
Chien-Lin
CL
Liu
Tain-Hsiung
TH
Chen
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D002968:Clavicle / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005599:Fractures, Ununited / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous