Crush neck with bilateral clavicle fractures managed with negative-pressure wound therapy and supracutaneous locked plating

Abstract

Bilateral and open fractures of the clavicle are rare injuries, with Gustilo-Anderson Type III open clavicle fractures rarely seen. We have reported a case of bilateral clavicle fractures in a young male with crush injury of the neck on the right side, multiple associated rib fractures, and brachial plexus injury. The crush neck was managed with extensive debridement and clavicle fractures were managed with external fixation with a supracutaneous locking compression plate on the right side, and internal fixation with a reconstruction plate on the left side. The wound healed with serial negative-pressure dressings without any secondary procedure. Both the fractures united well with a good outcome. This case demonstrates the effective use of negative-pressure wound therapy and supracutaneous locked plating for a Gustilo-Anderson Type IIIB open fracture of the clavicle.