Bipolar physeal injuries of the clavicle in a child

This article reports a type II Salter and Harris injury at either ends of the clavicle in a 13-year-old child with postero-inferior displacement at the lateral and antero-superior displacement at the medial end of the clavicle shaft. He was treated in a shoulder immobilizer. The mechanism of injury is postulated as pivoting of the clavicle on the first rib with shearing at either ends leading to a bipolar injury. The brachial plexus and subclavian vessels are at a risk of damage at the pivot as they lie in close vicinity to the first rib. In view of the intact periosteal sleeve as well as joint articulation at both ends, the fracture healed with no functional loss.