Displaced, Comminuted Diaphyseal Clavicle Fracture

Abstract

A 43-year-old man presents with an injury to his right shoulder that occurred while he was riding his mountain bike. He was told in the emergency department that he had fractured his collarbone and that surgeons had started recommending surgical treatment for this injury. He is very active, wants the best possible shoulder function, and desires early return to his outdoor activities. There is visible deformity, swelling, ecchymosis, and tenderness of the clavicle and chest wall. Radiographs demonstrate a superiorly displaced middle third clavicle fracture with complete loss of apposition and approximately 2.0 cm of axial shortening.