[Treatment of adolescent clavicular fracture with titanium elastic nails].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the feasibility and clinical effects of titanium elastic nails (TEN) for adolescent clavicular fracture.


METHODS
From October 2008 to November 2009, 17 adolescent patients with clavicular fracture were treated with internal fixation, including 11 males and 5 females who ranged in age from 12 to 18 years (mean 15.3 years). The mean time from injury to surgery was 3.5 days (2-7 days). Constant function score before surgery and that 3 months after surgery and shoulder ROM before surgery and that 2 months after surgery were compared. Fracture reduction and healing were followed up by X-rays to analyze internal fixation with the TEN technique.


RESULTS
All patients were followed up for a mean of 6.5 months (range 3-8 months), during which no infection, TEN fracture or skin bursting was observed. The Constant score rose from preoperative (45.3 +/- 6.1) to (85.6 +/- 4.3) at 3-month follow up (t = 22.164, P < 0.01),and the shoulder activity degree at 2-week follow up was improved obviosly from preoperative (P < 0.01). X-ray at 12-16 weeks after surgery showed good bone healing and recovery of shoulder function.


CONCLUSIONS
Internal fixation with TEN in the treatment of adolescent clavicular fracture is safe, minimally invasive,reliable and cosmetic. This technique provides a liable ption for the treatment of adolescent clavicular fractire
Department of Orthopaedics, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Wen-zhou Medical College, Rui'an 325200, Zhejiang, China. dongyilongded@sina.com
Yi-long
YL
Dong
Zhan-peng
ZP
Pan
Wen-liang
WL
Chen
Zhang-wei
ZW
Zhao
Yi-jiang
YJ
Huang
Guo-jing
GJ
Yang
D000293:Adolescent; D001858:Bone Nails; D002648:Child; D002968:Clavicle / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods*; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular