Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34476617›Full record

ArticleEuropean journal of orthopaedic surgery & traumatology : orthopedie traumatologie2022

Reducing unnecessary fixation of midshaft clavicle fractures.

Nicholas J Murray, Tobias Johnson, Iain N Packham, Mark A A Crowther, Tim J S Chesser

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Article in European journal of orthopaedic surgery & traumatology : orthopedie traumatologie, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

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2citing papers in PubMed
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3 · Its place in the literature

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2 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Nicholas J MurrayDepartment of Trauma & Orthopaedics, Southmead Hospital, North Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, BS10 5NG, UK. murraynjj@googlemail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5094-0373
Tobias JohnsonDepartment of Trauma & Orthopaedics, Southmead Hospital, North Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, BS10 5NG, UK.
Iain N PackhamDepartment of Trauma & Orthopaedics, Southmead Hospital, North Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, BS10 5NG, UK.
Mark A A CrowtherDepartment of Trauma & Orthopaedics, Southmead Hospital, North Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, BS10 5NG, UK.
Tim J S ChesserDepartment of Trauma & Orthopaedics, Southmead Hospital, North Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, BS10 5NG, UK.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeDisplaced midshaft clavicle fractures have a non-union rate of 10-20%. Those who unite with conservative treatment have similar outcomes to those who undergo operative treatment; therefore, protocols to identify potential non-unions are important to avoid unnecessary surgery. The aim of this study is to report one such protocol.

methodsA protocol was introduced, where all isolated closed displaced midshaft clavicle fractures were initially managed non-operatively in a sling. At 2 weeks patients were assessed clinically and those who were struggling with their symptoms were offered surgery, with the remainder mobilised as comfortable. All cases treated at one centre over a three-year period, with a minimum follow-up of one-year underwent case note review.

resultsBetween 2015 and 2017 613 clavicle fractures were managed through clinic. 347 were middle third (56%), 75% were male, mean age 41(range16-97). Forty-one middle third clavicle fracture patients underwent early fixation. Eleven patients required late fixation for symptomatic delayed, non- or malunion, 6 for symptomatic non-unions and 1 was a symptomatic malunion. For displaced fractures the early operative rate was 17.8%, and symptomatic non/malunion rate was 3.2%. This led to a total operative rate of 21%.

conclusionA protocol for managing clavicle fractures has demonstrated an effective management of these injuries. It is cost-effective reducing the number of patients with displaced fractures requiring fixation with a fixation rate of 21% whilst reducing the rate of symptomatic non- and malunion (3.2%). The management pathway is simple and could be introduced into any orthopaedic outpatient department with ease.

Indexed as

ClavicleFractures, BoneAdultBone PlatesFemaleFracture FixationFracture Fixation, InternalFracture HealingHumansMaleTreatment OutcomeClavicleFractureNon-unionProtocolReducing costTrauma

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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.