[Plating of fresh clavicular fractures. Experience with 60 operations]

In two trauma units 63 patients with 65 fresh fractures of the clavicle were treated by plating, applying strict indications for the selection of the patients for surgery. The straight reconstruction plate 3.5, DCP 2.7 and in very slim clavicles the straight reconstruction plate 2.7 proved to be the most useful implants. With correct indication and good operative technique plating leads nearly always to healing in anatomic position with good functional results. The course of 60 fractures could be analysed. 57 patients with 58 fractures were followed. One polytraumatised woman with bilateral fractures died. Seven complications with negative influence on the result were observed: four pseudarthroses following loosening, bending or breaking of the plate, three refractures after removal of the plate. There was no infection. That means, that technical complications with bad results occurred in about 1/10 of the operations. All seven were multiple fragment fractures in the middle of the clavicular shaft. It therefore seems that complications could be avoided by using a different technique or a different implant.