[AO elastic intramedullary nailing for the treatment of clavicle fractures]

To evaluate the outcome of Titanium elastic intramedullary nailing (TEN) for the treatment of displaced midclavicular fractures.

Between February 2010 and February 2013, 62 patients with displaced midclavicular fractures were treated by TEN, including 27 males and 35 females with an average age of 37.6 years old ranging from 15 to 67 years. The course of disease was from 1 to 9 days (means 2.7 days). Thirty-nine cases were treated by closed reduction and 23 cases by assistant small incision. Based on OTA (the Orthopaedic Trauma Association classification) classification, 31 cases of simple fractures involved 5 cases of 06-A1,15 cases of 06-A2,11 cases of 06-A3; 31 cases of wedge fractures involved 4 cases of 06-B1,12 cases of 06-B2,15 cases of 06-B3. Postoperative pain relief were evaluated by VAS score,and operation time,fracture healing time were recorded. After 6 weeks and after removing internal fixation shoulder joint function was evaluated by Constant score, and shoulder joint function were assessed by Herscovici score after 6 weeks.

Except 2 cases were lost to follow-up, 2 cases did not remove internal fixation, 3 cases' fractures were nonunion, the remaining 55 patients received follow-up for an average time of 11.4 months. The average preoperative VAS score was 5.20±0.71, and it turned to be 1.550.59 at 3 days after operation. The average operative duration was 40 min (15 to 65 min). The average bone healing time was (2.71±0.54) months (2 to 5 months). No difference about bone healing time was found between simple fractures and wedge fractures,and between the patients treated by closed reduction and assistant small incision. According to Herscovici standard, the shoulder function was excellent in 49 cases, good in 4, fair in 1, and poor in 1. Simple fractures achieved better Constant score than wedge fractures at 6 weeks postoperatively, whereas no difference was found at 4 weeks after fixation removal.

Titanium elastic nails (TEN) for treatment of displaced midclavicular fractures has advantages of good clinical effect,rapid pain relief,fast recovery of shoulder joint function. For OTA classification type B patients with comminuted fracture can replace steel to achieve very good effect, but to grasp the appropriate.