OSTEOSYNTHESIS OF CLAVICLE FRACTURES IN CHILDREN USING TITANIUM ELASTIC NAILS

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic surgery
• Pediatric orthopedics
• Traumatology

Background:

• Clavicle fractures are common in children, often requiring surgical intervention for displaced or unstable cases.
• Titanium Elastic Nails (TEN) present a minimally invasive intramedullary fixation option, yet their outcomes in pediatric populations require further documentation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the clinical and cosmetic outcomes of Titanium Elastic Nail (TEN) fixation with plating and Kirschner wire fixation for pediatric clavicle fractures.
• To evaluate complication rates, functional recovery, and patient satisfaction across different surgical fixation methods.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study of 72 pediatric patients (ages 10-18) with clavicle fractures treated surgically between 2021-2024.
• Fracture fixation involved TEN (n=48), plating (n=11), or Kirschner wires (n=13), selected based on fracture characteristics (OTA/AO classification).
• Outcomes assessed included radiographic union, complications, functional shoulder motion, and cosmetic satisfaction.

Main Results:

• All fixation methods achieved high union rates, with no significant difference in healing time.
• The TEN group experienced significantly fewer complications (e.g., skin irritation) compared to plating (non-union, refracture) and K-wire (migration) groups.
• Patients treated with TEN reported superior cosmetic satisfaction due to minimal scarring and faster return to sports (~4 weeks).

Conclusions:

• Titanium Elastic Nails (TEN) are an effective and minimally invasive fixation method for suitable pediatric clavicle fractures.
• TEN fixation demonstrates advantages over plating and K-wire fixation, including reduced complications and enhanced cosmetic outcomes.
• The high success rate and favorable aesthetics make TEN a preferred choice for eligible pediatric clavicle fracture cases.