[Fractures of the clavicle: classification, diagnosis, therapy]

Clavicular fracture is one of the most frequent skeletal lesions. In most cases the median third of the clavicula is affected (this is due to the peculiar biomechanical structure). Accompanying lesions and complications of clavicular fractures are rare. A total of 13 x-ray diagnostic techniques are described for clavicular fractures. X-ray film should, as a matter of principle, always be taken in two planes. Definitely the major part of clavicular fractures are treated conservatively (rucksack dressing), whereas surgery is reserved for few and strictly defined indications.