Objective To explore effectiveness of minimally invasive internal fixation with locking plates for mid-shaft clavicle fractures. Methods Between October 2022 and August 2023, 28 patients with mid-shaft clavicle fractures were treated by minimally invasive internal fixation with locking plates. There were 10 males and 18 females with a mean age of 46.2 years (range, 18-74 years). The fractures were caused by traffic accident in 16 patients, sports-related injury in 7 patients, and other injuries in 5 patients. According to Robinson classi?cation, the fractures were classified as type 2A1 in 1 case, type 2A2 in 6 cases, type 2B1 in 15 cases, and type 2B2 in 6 cases. The interval between fracture and operation ranged from 5 hours to 21 days (median, 1.0 days). The pain visual analogue scale (VAS) score was 8.1±1.6. The VAS score at 3 days after operation and the occurrence of complications after operation were recorded. During follow-up, X-ray films were re-examined to observe the healing of the fracture; the shoulder joint function was evaluated according to the Constant-Murley score at 6 months, and the length of the incision scar (total length of the distal and proximal incisions) was measured. ResultsAll operations were successfully completed without any subclavian vascular or nerve damage. All incisions healed by first intention. The VAS score was 1.2±0.7 at 3 days after operation, and there was a significant difference in VAS score between pre- and post-operation (t=8.704, P<0.001). At 1 week after operation, the patient’s shoulder was basically painless, and they resumed normal life. All patients were followed up 12-20 months (mean, 13.3 months). X-ray films showed that the bone callus began to form at 2-4 months after operation (mean, 2.7 months). There was no delayed healing or non healing of the fracture, and no loosening or fracture of the internal fixators during follow-up. At 6 months after operation, the mean total incision length was 1.5 cm (range, 1.1-1.8 cm); no patient complained of numbness or paresthesia on subclavicular region or anterior chest wall. The Constant-Murley score of shoulder joint function was 93-100 (mean, 97.6). Conclusion Minimally invasive internal fixation with locking plates is a good surgical method for treating mid-shaft clavicle fractures, with simple operation, minimal trauma, good postoperative results, and high satisfaction.
Objective To summarize the method and effectiveness of open reduction and internal fixation in the treatment of 4 cases of bipolar clavicle dislocations. Methods Between June 2017 and June 2022, 4 patients with bipolar clavicle dislocations were admitted. There were 3 males and 1 female. The age ranged from 27 to 63 years, with an average age of 45 years. There were 2 cases of crushing injury of mine car, 1 case of traffic accident injury, and 1 case of heavy object injury. The time from injury to operation was 3-7 days, with an average of 5.0 days. The sternoclavicular joint dislocations were classified as Grade Ⅱ in 1 case and type Ⅲ in 3 cases, and anterior dislocation in 3 cases and posterior dislocation in 1 case. The acromioclavicular joint dislocations were classified as Tossy type Ⅱ in 2 cases and type Ⅲ in 2 cases. After open reduction, the sternoclavicular joint and acromioclavicular joint were fixed with lateral malleolus locking titanium plate and clavicular hook plate, respectively. ResultsAll operations were successfully completed without vascular or nerve injury. All incisions healed by first intention. All patients were followed up 12-18 months, with an average of 14 months. At last follow-up, the shoulder joint functions were rated as excellent in 3 cases and good in 1 case according to Rockwood score. During follow-up, there was no loosening of internal fixator or fracture. The internal fixators were removed in all patients at 5-7 months after operation (mean, 6 months), and no re-dislocation occurred after removal. Conclusion For bipolar clavicle dislocation, open reduction combined with lateral malleolus locking titanium plate fixation of the sternoclavicular joint and clavicle hook plate fixation of the acromioclavicular joint can achieve good effectiveness. It has the advantages of simple operation, high safety, firm fixation, and fewer complications, and the shoulder function recovers well.
Objective To analyze the clinical effect of clavicular hook plate in treating Neer type Ⅱ fracture of distal clavicle. Methods From March 2004 to April 2006, 15 patients suffering from Neer type Ⅱ fracture of distal clavicle were treated with clavicular hook plate, including 12 males and 3 females with an average age of 39 years (range,17-69 years). All patients had acute injury,including accident injury (8 cases) and falling injury (7 cases). The results were assessed by the JOA method. Results The wounds healed by first intention. No early complications were found. All patients were followed up for an average of 16.4 months(range,9-34 months) .The mean JOA score was 93.1. Themean pain parameter was 28.0, the fuction was 18.8 and the range of motionwas 26.3. The X-ray films showed that bony union was obtained in all patients after 3.6 months, and the mean healing period was 3.9 months.No acromioclavicular subluxation and dislocation occurred. Conclusion The principal advantages of this method are reliable fixation and early rehabilitation. It is necessary to protect rotator cuff and tissues behind acromioclavicular joint and remove the plate as soon as possible after bony union.
Objective To compare the effectiveness of clavicular hook plate fixation in the treatment of acromioclavicular joint dislocation and distal clavicle fractures. Methods A clinical data of 90 patients, who underwent clavicular hook plate fixation between January 2014 and June 2023, was retrospectively analyzed. There were 40 patients with distal clavicle fractures (fracture group) and 50 with acromioclavicular joint dislocations (dislocation group). There was no significant difference in the baseline data of gender, age, cause of injury, side of injury, time from injury to operation, and constituent ratio of osteoporosis patients between the two groups (P>0.05). The time to remove the internal fixators and the occurrence of complications were recorded. Before removing the internal fixator and at 3 months after removing, the visual analogue scale (VAS) score was used to evaluate the degree of pain, and the mobility of the shoulder joint in forward flexion, elevation, and abduction was measured. Before removing the internal fixators, the Constant-Murley score and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) score were used to evaluate the function of the shoulder joint. X-ray films of the shoulder joint were taken during follow-up to observe the occurrence of subacromial osteolysis, acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, and distal clavicle bone atrophy. Subgroup comparison was conducted between patients with and without subacromial osteolysis in the two groups. Results All incisions healed by first intention in both groups. All patients were followed up 1-9 years, with a median of 5 years; the difference in follow-up time between the two groups was not significant (P>0.05). During follow-up, subacromial osteolysis occurred in 74 cases, including 41 cases of typeⅠand 33 cases of type Ⅱ, distal clavicle bone atrophy in 15 cases, and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis in 8 cases. There were significant differences in the removal time of internal fixators, the incidence of bone atrophy, and the incidence of osteoarthritis between the two groups (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of subacromial osteolysis (P>0.05). Before removing the internal fixators, there was no significant difference in VAS score, UCLA score, and Constant-Murley score between the two groups (P>0.05), while there were significant differences in shoulder joint range of motion in all directions (P<0.05). After removing the internal fixators, only the difference in elevation was significant (P<0.05). Within the group comparison, the VAS score and mobility of shoulder joint in abduction and elevation after removing the internal fixators were significantly superior to those before removing (P<0.05). In the fracture and dislocation groups, there was only a significant difference in plate length between the subgroup with and without subacromial osteolysis (P<0.05), while there was no significant difference in the above other indicators (P>0.05). Conclusion Clavicular hook plate is a good choice for treating acromioclavicular dislocation or distal clavicle fractures, but the incidence of subacromial osteolysis is higher, and the degree of bone resorption is more severe in fracture patients. After removal of the internal fixator, the shoulder functions significantly improve. It is recommended to remove the internal fixator as soon as possible within the allowable range of the condition.
To investigate the effectiveness of T-locking plate in treating medial clavicle fracture so as to find out a therapy with safety and stabil ity. Methods Between October 2006 and January 2009, 13 patients with medial clavicle fracture were treated with open reduction and T-locking plate fixation. There were 9 males and 4 females, aged 18-68 years (mean, 47 years), including 7 cases of traffic accident injury, 4 cases of fall ing injury from height, and 2 cases of heavy object hit injury. The locations were left side in 5 cases and right side in 8 cases. All cases were closed fracture. The disease duration was 1 hour to 14 days. Results All incisions healed by first intention after operation. The X-ray films showed good reduction of fracture and internal fixation. All the 13 patients were followed up 12-18 months (mean, 15 months). The average fracture heal ing duration was 8 weeks (range, 6-12 weeks). No compl ication of infection, nerve or blood vessel injury, hemopneumothorax, or internal fixation loosening or failure occurred. The anatomical medial clavicle structure as well asappearances and functions were restored. According to Rockwood’s score method, the results were excellent in 11 cases and good in 2 cases. Conclusion The internal fixation of T-locking plate in treating medial clavicle fracture has the advantages of good stabil ity and low risk. Besides, the patients can do functional exercises early and the shoulder joint function can be improved in great degree.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the technique and effectiveness of dual plates fixation for distal comminuted clavicle fractures.
MethodsBetween January 2011 and September 2012, 16 patients with distal comminuted clavicle fractures were treated with dual plates fixation. There were 9 males and 7 females with the mean age of 53.6 years (range, 36-71 years). All the patients had closed fracture, including 10 cases of Craig Ⅱ/type Ⅱ, 5 cases of Craig Ⅱ/type V, and 1 case of Craig Ⅱ/type Ⅱ and Craig Ⅲ, which was caused by traffic accident in 8 cases, by sports in 5 cases, and by falling from height in 3 cases. The average interval from injury to surgery was 48 hours (range, 12-72 hours). The X-ray films were taken during follow-up. The functional recovery of the shoulder joint was assessed using the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) rating scale score.
ResultsAll the patients were followed up 13-17 months (mean, 13.6 months). The X-ray films showed bone union and anatomical reduction in all cases, with the mean time of bone healing of 5.6 months (range, 4-6 months). No complication of implant related fracture, implant failure, malunion, nonunion, or post-traumatic arthritis occurred during follow-up. The mean ASES score was 91 (range, 86-93) at last follow-up.
ConclusionDual plates fixation in the treatment of distal comminuted clavicle fractures can obtain a rigid fixation and avoid the interference of acromioclavicular joint and shoulder joint activities, so this technique is a safe and effective method.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness of double internal fixations of clavicle and scapula and intraoperative reduction of glenopolar angle in the treatment of floating shoulder injuries.MethodsBetween January 2010 and June 2019, 13 patients with floating shoulder injury were treated with double internal fixation of clavicle and scapula and intraoperative reduction of glenopolar angle. There were 11 males and 2 females with an average age of 48 years (range, 25-65 years). The causes of injury included falling from height in 2 cases, traffic accident injury in 3 cases, heavy object injury in 2 cases, and other injuries in 6 cases. There were 2 cases of Ⅰ-B-3 type, 1 case of Ⅰ-C-2 type, 1 case of Ⅰ-C-3 type, 3 cases of Ⅱ-B-2 type, 1 case of Ⅱ-B-3 type, 1 case of Ⅱ-B-4 type, 2 cases of Ⅱ-C-2 type, 1 case of Ⅱ-C-4 type, and 1 case of Ⅱ-D-3 type according to the classification of floating shoulder injury. All patients had unilateral clavicle fracture with scapular neck fracture, 1-4 superior shoulder suspensory complex (SSSC) injuries. The time from injury to operation was 7-17 days, with an average of 12 days. The glenopolar angle, subacromail space, anteroposterior inclination angle of scapular glenoid, scapular glenoid up and down angle were measured before and after operation; Constant-Murly score and Herscovici score were used to evaluate the recovery of shoulder joint function.ResultsAll incisions healed by first intention, and there was no early postoperative complications such as infection. All 13 cases were followed up 12-48 months, with an average of 25.2 months. Both the clavicle and the scapula had bone union, and the average healing time was 6 months and 4 months respectively. There were no complications such as nonunion, shoulder deformity, plate fracture or failure of internal fixation, acromion impingement syndrome, and frozen shoulder. At last follow-up, the glenopolar angle, subacromail space, anteroposterior inclination angle of scapular glenoid, and scapular glenoid up and down angle were all corrected significantly (P<0.05). The pain, function, activity, muscle strength scores, and total score in Constant-Murly score were significantly improved when compared with preoperative scores (P<0.05). According to the Herscovici scoring standard, the shoulder joint function was evaluated as excellent in 8 cases, good in 3 cases, and fair in 2 cases. The excellent and good rate was 84.6%.ConclusionDouble internal fixation of clavicle and scapula to stabilize SSSC and reduct glenopolar angle during operation is an effective method for treating the floating shoulder injury.
Objective To investigate the cl inical efficacy, compl ications and necessity of removing internal fixation in treatment of fresh Tossy type III acromioclavicular joint dislocations and Neer type II distal clavicle fractures with clavicularhook plate. Methods From June 2005 to June 2008, 24 patients with fresh Tossy type III acromioclavicular joint dislocations and 20 patients with fresh Neer type II distal clavicle fractures were treated. There were 32 males and 12 females with an agerange of 18-66 years (38.5 years on average), involving 18 left shoulders and 26 right shoulders. The injury was caused bytraffic accident in 31 cases and by fall ing in 13 cases. The mean time from injury to operation was 4 days (range, 2-8 days). All patients were treated by reduction with clavicular hook plate fixation. The coracoclavicular l igaments were not sutured. The shoulder functions were evaluated according to University of Cal ifornia-Los Angeles (UCLA) score system and analysed before and after removing internal fixation. Results Wound infection occurred in 2 cases 1 week after operation and healed after symptomatic managment, the other incisions healed by first intention. One case accepted hook plate fixation again because of loosening hooking-up 1 week after operation. One case accepted hook plate removal and Kirschner wire fixation because of severe shoulder’s pain on the postoperative third day. Thirty-eight patients were followed up for 8-32 months (18 months on average), there was no plate breakage. Clavicle fractures got bony union after 3-6 months (4.2 months on average). At last followup (before plate removal), according to UCLA shoulder function score system, the results were excellent in 11 cases, good in 22 cases, and fair in 5 cases; the excellent and good rate was 86.8%. Because of shoulder’s pain, plates were removed in 20 patients 3-16 months (10 months on average) after operation. The cases were followed up 3-8 months (5 months on average) after removing plate. No dislocation and fracture occurred again. There was statistically significant difference (P lt; 0.01) in the functional scores of shoulder between before (30.55 ± 4.00) and after removing internal fixation (33.85 ± 1.95). Conclusion Clavicular hook plate fixation is an effective treatment for fresh Tossy type III acromioclavicular joint dislocations and Neer type II distal claviclefractures. Normative operating, correct plate moulding, functional rehabil itation after operation are key factors in preventingcompl ications and reaching good cl inical efficacy. For the patients with postoperative symptoms, the plate should be removed to improve the shoulder’s function.
This article introduced a new method to repairthe mandibular micrognathia of mandible. Thehalf-split clavicle bone with bilateralsternocleidomastoid muscular pediclcs was used.Based on the results of our clinical data, it hadthe advantages of bone graft with vascularpodicle, no functional ill- effect in the donorsite, shortens the operative time, and might beaccomplished reliability in a one stage.
ObjectiveTo investigate and evaluate the effectiveness of the distal radius microplate locking plate for the treatment of displaced fracture of medial clavicle.MethodsBetween January 2013 and June 2017, 18 cases of obvious displaced fracture of medial clavicle were treated with distal radius microlocking plate. There were 10 males and 8 females, with an average age of 51.4 years (range, 18-88 years). Causes of injury included traffic accident injury in 15 cases, heavy object injury in 3 cases; all of them were closed injury. According to Edinburgh classification, 15 cases were ⅠB1 type and 3 cases were ⅠB2 type. Fracture displacement was 12-21 mm (mean, 16.3 mm). The time from injury to operation was 3-7 days (mean, 4.3 days). After operation, the clinical healing and complications of fracture were observed, and shoulder function was evaluated according to Rockwood’s scoring criteria.ResultsNo incisional infection, neurovascular injury, or other early complications occurred. All 18 patients were followed up 8-15 months (mean, 12 months). All fractures reached clinical osseous union, and the healing time was 8-24 weeks (mean, 16.6 weeks). Postoperative plate loosening occurred in 1 case, which was removed surgically, while other patients did not suffer from complications such as bone nonunion, displacement, internal fixator loosening, and loss of reduction. At last follow-up, according to Rockwood’s scoring criteria, the results were excellent in 12 cases and good in 6 cases.ConclusionThe distal radius microplate locking plate is effective for the treatment of displaced medial clavicle fracture, which has few complications, and is feasible for early functional exercise, and is helpful for the recovery of shoulder joint function.
