[Treatment of distal clavicle type II fracture: suture anchor versus clavicular hook plate]

To compare the efficacy of suture anchor with clavicular hook plate in treatment of type II fractures of the distal clavicle.

Forty patients with Neer type II fractures of distal clavicle were treated in our hospital from May 2009 to May 2010, including 21 cases treated with suture anchors and 19 cases treated with clavicular hook plate. The time of fracture union and Constant Murley scores were compared between two groups.

All incisions reached primary healing, and there was no infection or hematoma formation. Postoperative follow-up time was 12-24 months, mean 14.5 months. The mean time of fracture reunion in suture anchors group was 13.2±2.0 weeks (9-17 weeks) and that in clavicular hook plate group was 13.3±2.0 weeks (10-16 weeks, P>0.05). The mean postoperative Constant Murley scores in suture anchors and hook plate groups were (91.1±6.5)% and (89.2±7.6)%, respectively (P>0.05). But the pain score in suture anchor group was higher than that in hook plate group (12.6±1.9 vs 11.3±2.3, P<0.05).

Compared with claviculer hook plate, the suture anchor has good clinical results and less complications in treatment of type II fractures of distal clavicle.