The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume
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J Bone Joint Surg Am · Mar 2008
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative StudyNonoperative treatment compared with plate fixation of displaced midshaft clavicular fractures. Surgical technique.
Recent studies have shown a high prevalence of symptomatic malunion and nonunion after nonoperative treatment of displaced midshaft clavicular fractures. We sought to compare patient-oriented outcome and complication rates following nonoperative treatment and those after plate fixation of displaced midshaft clavicular fractures. ⋯ Operative fixation of a displaced fracture of the clavicular shaft results in improved functional outcome and a lower rate of malunion and nonunion compared with nonoperative treatment at one year of follow-up. Hardware removal remains the most common reason for repeat intervention in the operative group. This study supports primary plate fixation of completely displaced midshaft clavicular fractures in active adult patients.