[Complex fractures of the clavicles lateral third].

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic surgery
• Traumatology
• Anatomy

Background:

• Fractures of the lateral third of the clavicle constitute 18% of all clavicle fractures.
• Displaced fractures in this region have a significant non-union rate of 30%.
• Management of displaced lateral clavicle fractures remains a challenge with various proposed surgical techniques.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of lateral third clavicle fractures involving the acromioclavicular joint.
• To review and compare treatment strategies employed at our center with existing literature.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective, cross-sectional, descriptive, and observational study design.
• Review of patient records diagnosed with lateral third clavicle fractures and acromioclavicular joint injury.

Main Results:

• Lateral third clavicle fractures represented 24% of all clavicle fractures in the study cohort.
• The predominant surgical interventions included anatomical plates (50%), coracoclavicular cerclage with resection (25%), and other techniques like plate hooks and Mumford procedures.
• A male predominance and left shoulder prevalence were observed.

Conclusions:

• Treatment selection for lateral clavicle fractures should be individualized based on fracture type and patient-specific factors.
• The coracoclavicular cerclage technique is suggested for multifragmented, irreducible, or small lateral fragments, potentially combined with ligament reconstruction.