Abstract

• The clavicle plays very important role in the motion of the shoulder girdle and maintenance of power and stability of the arm. The most clavicular shaft fractures can be treated by conservative methcds with a high rate of union and low rate of complications. The operative treatment in clavicular fracture is limited in such as wide separation of the fragments with soft tissue interposition, nonunion, or neurovascular involvements. From 1989 to 1991, eighty six consecutive patients with clavicular shaft fractures were treated at Ewha Womans University Hospital. Fifty eight patients were treated conservatively(Group I) and twenty eight patients operatively(Group II)
  Authors compared both groups and obtained the following results;
  1. The most common cause of injuries was the traffic accident and the most common associated skeletal injury around the shoulder was the rib fracture.
  2. The degree of comminution and displacement of the clavicular shaft fracture were more severe in Group II.
  3. The average time to union was 8.7 weeks in Group I and 10.3 weeks in Group II.
  4. The average rate of union at 4 months was 93.1% in Group I and 96.4% in Group II
  5. The functional result was good or excellent in over 90% in both Groups according to the Kangs criteria.
  6. The rate of complication was 8.0% in Group I (one nonunion, three delayed unions and one malunlon) and 3.6% in Group II(only one case of nonunion)
  7. The immobilization period was between 6 to 8 weeks In Group I and within 4 weeks in Group II in most cases.
• Key words: Clavicle, Primary open reduction

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