[Clavicular fractures : Diagnostics, treatment and management]

Fractures of the clavicle (Latin clavicula, little key), which mainly occur in young men, account for 2.6-4% of all fractures in adults [1]. Above the age of 65 years more clavicular fractures occur in women [1]. The incidence is rising and can best be explained by the increase in sport or recreational accidents [2]. As a rule clavicular fractures are compression fractures caused by direct trauma from falls onto the shoulder or the posterolateral edge of the acromion. Indirect trauma with a fall onto the outstretched hand is a relatively rare mechanism of injury [2, 3]. Plain standard X-rays confirm the mostly obvious clinical presentation of a clavicular fracture [2]. In the case of a closed nondisplaced fracture, conservative treatment can be carried out [4]. Surgical treatment is recommended for dislocated fractures with shortening, which results in a significant decrease of pseudarthrosis [4].