[Results of conservative treatment of displaced mid-clavicular fractures in adults].

Abstract

We evaluated the mid-term results of conservative treatment of mid-clavicular fractures in adults. Eighty-five patients (60 males, 25 females; mean age 36 years; range 19-61 years) with mid-clavicular fractures were treated conservatively with a figure-of-eight bandage method. Radiographically, 72 fractures were displaced and of two fragments, 13 were displaced and comminuted. Clinical and radiologic results were evaluated after a mean follow-up of 35 months (range 12 to 72 months). In 84 patients, union was achieved by conservative treatment. Only one patient required surgical treatment. Malunion occurred in seven patients. Clinically, the results were good in 68 (94.4%), moderate in three patients (4.1%), and poor in one patient (1.3%) in two-fragment fractures. Of comminuted fractures, the results were good in 10 (76.9%), and moderate in three patients (23.1%). No significant differences were found between the clinical results. Conservative treatment of displaced mid-clavicular fractures provide union, making surgical treatment indicated only in a small number of patients with unsatisfactory results.