European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Background: Fractures of the clavicle are common injuries of adults, accounting for about 3% of all injuries. Lateral end clavicleare unstable due to the various deforming forces which act on the fragments as well as the small distal fracture fragment. Unfortunately, there is no reference standard treatment recommendation for this fracture. In this study, we assessed two fixation technique using the pre-contoured locking plates and clavicular hook plates to find out stability of fixation and functional outcome.
Methods: Totally, 30 patients with lateral end clavicle fracture (Neer's Type II) were included in the study. After the informed consent and preoperative investigations, open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) was done in 16 patients using a 3.5 mm pre-contoured locking plates (Group A) and 14 patients with clavicular hook plates (Group B) under general anaesthesia. Postoperative X-rays were done on immediate postoperative day and subsequently at 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks and 6 months where serial monitoring was done regarding placement of plate, implant loosening, osteolysis, cut out of plate and fracture union. The functional outcome was assessed using Constant-Murley score at each follow up.
Results: There were no intraoperative complications noted in procedure of fixation in either of the Groups. In pre-countered locking plate group mean duration to union was 13.33±2.126 weeks and the mean Constant-Murley score was 92.16 whereas in patient operated with clavicular hook plate, the mean duration to union was 15.33±2.134 weeks and the mean Constant-Murley score was 88.36.
Conclusions: The pre-contoured locking plates and clavicular hook plates are good method to fix the fractures of the lateral end clavicle. They provide a stable fixation with good functional outcome with very few instances of stiffness and decreased range of motion when compared to other mode of fixation for lateral end clavicle fractures