Partial claviculectomy after non-union of proximal clavicle fracture

Non-union of a proximal clavicle fracture is rare. When it does occur, it poses a difficult problem causing severe pain and shoulder impairment that must be dealt with surgically. We report a 29-year-old woman who suffered a proximal clavicle fracture and received plate and screws fixation. Six months later, after constant pain and a diminished range of shoulder motion, she sought help at our clinic and was diagnosed with symptomatic non-union. Reconstruction with bone graft and interosseous sutures was performed in vain as pain persisted and follow-up radiograph showed no healing. A salvage procedure with partial claviculectomy was then carried out. The patient has been pain free after 3.5 years of follow-up, a full range of motion and is quite satisfied with the cosmetics. This outcome demonstrates that claviculectomy can be used successfully in a clinical situation where restoration of clavicular non-union fails.