Intramedullary Nailing and Minimally Invasive Percutaneous Plate Osteosynthesis in Treatment of Displaced Clavicular...

To compare the difference between MIPO and IMN methods in the treatment of displaced clavicular mid-shaft fractures.

A total 163 patients were consecutively enrolled and randomly divided into the MIPO group or the IMN group. Clinical characteristics and outcomes including age, gender, causes of fractures, and AO/OTA type as well as hospitalization time, healing time, and postoperative complications were analyzed. Constant-Murley scores and DASH scores were used for assessment of shoulder joint and upper extremity function, respectively.

In this study, 82 cases received MIPO and 81 cases received IMN. The mean operation time, mean bleeding volume, mean hospitalization time, and mean healing time showed no significant difference between the MIPO and IMN groups. At 3 months after surgery, Constant-Murley scores were significantly higher and DASH scores were significantly lower in the MIPO group than the IMN group. No significant difference was observed for both indexes at 6 months. The fracture nonunion rate was significantly lower in the MIPO group. No significant difference was found in other complications.

Both methods were effective for the treatment of displaced clavicular mid-shaft fractures. However, the MIPO method might be better for recovery of shoulder and upper extremity function in the short term and might have a lower nonunion rate.