Findings from a study published in the Jan. 18 issue of The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery (JBJS) suggest that for certain patients with a diaphyseal fracture of the clavicle, the bone may be more likely to heal when treated with plate fixation than nonoperative treatment. 

The authors conducted a randomized, controlled trial of 160 patients aged 18 to 60 years who were treated with open reduction with internal plate fixation or nonoperatively. At 1-year follow-up, they found that the rate of nonunion was significantly higher in the nonoperative cohort compared to the plate fixation cohort. They note that the rate of secondary operation was 27.4 percent in the operative group (16.7 percent for elective plate removal) and 17.1 percent in the nonoperative group. Overall, 19 percent of patients in the operative group had persistent loss of sensation around the scar. The authors found no difference across cohorts with respect to Constant shoulder and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand scores at any time point. Learn more...