Clavicle duplication following physeal injury

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Pediatric Radiology
• Anatomical Variations

Background:

• Clavicle duplication is a rare anatomical variation.
• Congenital and post-traumatic etiologies are hypothesized.
• Distal clavicle physeal-metaphyseal injuries in children differ from adult acromioclavicular joint injuries.

Observation:

• A 5-year-old boy presented with symptoms suggestive of clavicle injury.
• Radiographic and computed tomography (CT) imaging revealed a duplicated clavicle.
• The injury involved a physeal-metaphyseal injury with an intact distal epiphysis and periosteal sleeve.

Findings:

• The periosteal sleeve's osteogenic potential led to new bone formation.
• This new bone formation occurred between the epiphysis and the displaced metaphysis.
• The findings confirmed a post-traumatic clavicle duplication.

Implications:

• Understanding this mechanism is crucial for diagnosing pediatric clavicle injuries.
• The intact acromioclavicular joint and remodeling potential may allow for non-operative management.
• This case expands the understanding of rare clavicle anomalies and their traumatic origins.