Trial reportArchives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery2022
Does implant removal of superior clavicle plate osteosynthesis affect the functional outcome: a prospective trial.
Trial report in Archives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT04343118 (Do Patients Benefit From Elective Implant Removal Following Plate Osteosynthesis of Clavicle Fractures - a Prospective Trial), which is not on this map. Cited by 11 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Do Patients Benefit From Elective Implant Removal Following Plate Osteosynthesis of Clavicle Fractures - a Prospective Trial
Who cites it
11 citing papers in PubMed, 10 citations in OpenAlex.
- Refracture after implant removal of the clavicle: a retrospective cohort analysis.Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research · 2026Article
- Practice patterns in indications, timing, and imaging for clavicle hardware removal: a survey among German-speaking shoulder surgeons.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2026Article
- Review
- Immediate radiographic reduction loss but preserved clinical outcomes after hardware removal in lateral clavicle fractures treated with plate fixation and coracoclavicular augmentation.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2026Article
- Clavicle Shaft Non-Unions-Do We Even Need Bone Grafts?Journal of clinical medicine · 2024Article
- Patient satisfaction after elective implant removal of the lower extremity - a retrospective cohort study.European journal of trauma and emergency surgery : official publication of the European Trauma Society · 2024Article
- Elective implant removal in the upper extremity: only symptomatic patients benefit.European journal of orthopaedic surgery & traumatology : orthopedie traumatologie · 2024Article
- Excellent clinical and radiological outcome following locking compression plate fixation of displaced medial clavicle fractures.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2021Article
- Good to Excellent Functional Outcome and High Return to Sports Rate after Operative Treatment of Unstable Lateral Clavicle Fractures: Comparison of Two Coracoclavicular Button Fixation Techniques.Journal of clinical medicine · 2021Article
- Refracture after locking compression plate removal in displaced midshaft clavicle fractures after bony union: a retrospective study.Clinics in shoulder and elbow · 2021Article
- Comparable results using 2.0-mm vs. 3.5-mm screw augmentation in midshaft clavicle fractures: a 10-year experience.European journal of medical research · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
8 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundElective implant removal (IR) accounts for up to 30% of all orthopaedic surgeries. While there is general acceptance about the need of implant removal for obvious reasons, such as infections or implant failure, little is known about the beneficial aspects in cases of minor reasons such as patients' wish for IR. Therefore, we initiated this study to define patients' benefit of elective implant removal following plate osteosynthesis of displaced clavicle fractures. PATIENTS AND
methodsProspective evaluation of patients was conducted before implant removal and 6 weeks postoperative. Subjective and objective criteria included pain rating on a visual analogue scale (VAS) and active range of motion (ROM) pre- and 6 weeks postoperative. Functional scoring included Constant-Murley Score, DASH (Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder and Hand Score), MSQ (Munich Shoulder Questionnaire) and SPADI (Shoulder Pain and Disability Index).
results37 patients were prospectively enrolled in this study and implant removal was performed after 16 ± 6.1 months. No re-fractures nor other complications were detected during routine follow up. Functional outcome increased through all scores (Constant score 73.3 ± 14.6 preoperative to 87.4 ± 12.0 postoperative (p = 0.000), MSQ 85.0 ± 7.3 preoperative to 91.8 ± 9.0 postoperative (p = 0.005), DASH Score 7.4 ± 8.2 preoperative to 5.7 ± 9.5 postoperative (p = 0.414), SPADI 93.4 ± 6.6 preoperative to 94.0 ± 10.1 postoperative (p = 0.734).
conclusionsDiscomfort during daily activities or performing sports as well as limited range of motion were the main reasons for patients' wish for implant removal. We found increased functional outcome parameters and decreased irritation after implant removal. Therefore we suggest implant removal in case of patients' wish and completed fracture consolidation.
trial registrationTrial registration no: NCT04343118, Retrospective registered: www.clinicaltrials.gov .
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.