title: Results of midshaft clavicle fractures treated with expandable, elastic and locking intramedullary nails.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to present the results of osteosynthesis with elastic expandable intramedullary nail for clavicle fractures.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 17 patients (11 males, 6 females; mean age 36.4 years, range: 21 to 54 years) who underwent surgery for a displaced clavicle fracture and had a shortening of more than 2 cm. The Constant Score and DASH (Disabilities of The Arm, Shoulder and Hand) scoring were used to determine the functional status of the patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean operation time was 30.4 (range: 25 to 42) minutes and mean follow-up period was 10.3 (range: 8 to 19) months. Mean union time was 15.8 (range: 9 to 20) weeks. A superficial infection was treated with wound debridement and antibiotherapy in one patient. No patient suffered from neurovascular compromise, deep infection or implant irritation. Implant fracture developed at 2 months after surgery in one patient treated for Type B1 clavicle fracture and healed without any other intervention. There was no statistically significant shortening (p>0.05). In the final follow-up, the mean Constant Score was 94.3 (range: 86 to 97), and mean DASH score was 11.8 (range: 7.3 to 17.4).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Expandable elastic locking intramedullary nail appears to provide minimal complication and high success rate for the surgical treatment of non-comminuted displaced clavicle shaft fractures. Additional studies with large series are necessary for further investigation.
authors: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Hitit University, Çorum, Turkey.
authors: Sinan
authors: S
authors: Zehir
authors: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, İstanbul Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul University, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors: Turgut
authors: T
authors: Akgül
authors: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Çarşamba State Hospital, Samsun, Turkey.
authors: Regayip
authors: R
authors: Zehir
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001858:Bone Nails; D002968:Clavicle / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D017102:Fracture Healing; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome