Dual-plating is associated with lower implant removal rates compared with single-plate fixation for midshaft clavicle fractures: a meta-analysis.

Dual mini-fragment plate fixation of midshaft clavicle fractures demonstrates fewer union complications but similar patient-reported outcomes compared to nonoperative management: a cohort study with mean 3.4-year follow-up.

Outcomes and complications after dual plate vs. single plate fixation of displaced mid-shaft clavicle fractures: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Limited biomechanical data exist for dual small plate fixation of midshaft clavicle fractures, and no prior study has concurrently compared dual small plating to larger superior or anteroinferior single plate and screw constructs. Purpose: To biomechanically compare dual small orthogonal plating, superior plating, and anteroinferior plating of midshaft clavicle fractures by use of a cadaveric model. Study Design: Descriptive laboratory study. Methods: The study used 18 cadaveric clavicle specimens (9 pairs total), and 3 plating techniques were studied: anteroinferior, superior, and dual. The dual plating technique used smaller diameter plates and screws (1.6-mm thickness) than the other, single plate techniques (3.3-mm thickness). Each of the 9 clavicle pairs was randomly assigned a combination of 2 plating techniques, and randomization was used to determine which techniques were used for the right and left specimens. Clavicles were plated and then osteotomized to create an inferior butterfly fracture model, which was then fixed with a single interfragmentary screw. Clavicle specimens were then potted for mechanical testing. Initial bending, axial, and torsional stiffness of each construct was determined through use of a randomized nondestructive cyclic testing protocol followed by load to failure. Results: No significant differences were found in cyclical axial (P = .667) or torsional (P = .526) stiffness between plating groups. Anteroinferior plating demonstrated significantly higher cyclical bending stiffness than superior plating (P = .005). No significant difference was found in bending stiffness between dual plating and either anteroinferior (P = .129) or superior plating (P = .067). No significant difference was noted in load to failure among plating methods (P = .353). Conclusion: Dual plating with a smaller plate-screw construct is biomechanically similar to superior and anteroinferior single plate fixation that uses larger plate-screw constructs. No significant differences were found between dual plating and either superior or anteroinferior single plating in axial, bending, or torsional stiffness or in bending load to failure. Dual small plating is a viable option for fixing midshaft clavicle fractures and may be a useful low-profile technique that avoids a larger and more prominent plate-screw construct. Clinical Relevance: Plate prominence and hardware irritation are commonly reported complaints and reasons for revision surgery after plate fixation of midshaft clavicle fractures. Dual small plate fixation has been used to improve cosmetic acceptability, minimize hardware irritation, and decrease reoperation rate. Biomechanically, dual small plate fixation performed similarly to larger single plate fixation in this cadaveric model of butterfly fracture.

The clavicle exhibits considerable movement in three planes making rigid fixation challenging. The addition of a second plate may be considered to improve fixation rigidity, but risks compromising the blood supply to the fracture site. The purpose of this study is to assess if extraperiosteal dual plate fixation increases the rate of non-union, reoperation, and complications at 1year for surgically treated acute mid-shaft clavicle fractures. Between June 1998 and June 2013, surgically treated mid-shaft clavicle fractures undergoing open reduction internal fixation within 4 weeks of injury were retrospectively reviewed. Patients undergoing single plate fixation were compared to dual plate fixation. Patients were followed for a minimum of 1year. Charts were reviewed to assess union rates, reoperation, and complications. One hundred and sixty-three clavicles (125 single plates, 34 dual plates) were evaluated. All patients (100%) in dual plating group and one hundred and fourteen (91%) in single plating group obtained bony union by 1year (p = 0.13). Six patients (4.8%) experienced a non-union in the single plating cohort compared to the dual plating cohort who had a 100% union rate. Seven patients required reoperation in the single plate cohort due to implant failure (N = 4), infection (N = 2), and non-union (N = 1). This limited series of patients demonstrates dual plate fixation is a reliable option for acute mid-shaft clavicle fractures, with excellent union rates and low complication rates. Compared to single plate fixation, no significant differences in outcomes were identified. In the case of more complex fracture patterns, application of a second extraperiosteal plate may be utilized without compromising healing or increasing complication rates.

Clinical outcomes and predictors of patient satisfaction in displaced midshaft clavicle fractures in adults: Results from a retrospective multicentre study

BackgroundThe rate of operative fixation of acute midshaft clavicle fractures has exponentially increased in recent years; however, the rate of reoperation for symptomatic hardware removal remains high and the optimal fixation strategy unknown. This systematic review aimed to summarize available evidence for dual plating of acute displaced midshaft clavicle fractures.MethodsEMBASE, MEDLINE, and PubMed searches identified clinical studies evaluating dual plate fixation of acute midshaft clavicle fractures. Pooled analysis was performed using a random-effects model in RevMan 5.3.ResultsEleven studies including 672 patients were included. Hardware removal occurred in 4.4% and 12.3% of patients undergoing dual and single plate fixation, respectively. Compared to single plating, dual plating had significantly lower odds of hardware removal (P = 0.001) with no difference in union rates. There were no significant differences in reoperation (excluding hardware removal), complications, and patient-reported outcomes between the two groups (P > 0.05).ConclusionsThis study suggests that dual plating of acute displaced midshaft clavicle fractures may lead to lower rates of reoperation for symptomatic hardware removal without compromising fracture healing. Ultimately, well-designed randomized trials are needed to further investigate the findings from this systematic review.

BackgroundClavicle fractures account for around 4% of all fractures and up to 44% of fractures of the shoulder girdle. Fractures of the middle third (or mid-shaft) account for approximately 80% of all clavicle fractures. Management of this group of fractures is often challenging and the outcome can be unsatisfactory. In particular it is not clear whether surgery produces better outcomes than non-surgical management. Currently there is much variation in the use of surgery and a lack of good quality evidence to inform our decision.Methods/DesignWe aim to undertake a multicentre randomised controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness and safety of conservative management versus open reduction and internal fixation for displaced mid-shaft clavicle fractures in adults. Surgical treatment will be performed using the Acumed clavicle fixation system. Conservative management will consist of immobilisation in a sling at the side in internal rotation for 6 weeks or until clinical or radiological union. We aim to recruit 300 patients. These patients will be followed-up for at least 9 months. The primary endpoint will be the rate of non-union at 3 months following treatment. Secondary endpoints will be limb function measured using the Constant-Murley Score and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) Score at 3 and 9 months post-operatively.DiscussionThis article presents the protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial. It gives extensive details of, and the basis for, the chosen methods, and describes the key measures taken to avoid bias and to ensure validity.Trial RegistrationUnited Kingdom Clinical Research Network ID: 8665. The date of registration of the trial is 07/09/2006. The date the first patient was recruited is 18/12/2007.

Background: A displaced mid-shaft clavicle fracture in an adult is a break in the collarbone, which is the long bone that runs from the shoulder to the chest. Mid-shaft fractures occur in the middle portion of the collarbone and the displaced fracture means that the broken pieces have moved out of their normal alignment. Study design: It is a comparative study conducted at Orthopedics Department of Pakistan Railway General Hospital, Rawalpindi for the duration of six months from Jan 2022 to June 2022. Material and Methods: The patients who were treated without operation were compared with operative patients for better results. Both groups contained 60 patients. The average age of the patients was 29.9±7.8 in the control group and 32.1±8.1 in the non-operative group. There were 32 and 28 patients in control group that had right and left side of injury respectively. This study was approved by the ethical and the review board committee of the hospital. The data was collected and statistical analysis was performed. Results: The functional outcome of the patients is constant score fracture was calculated and clavicle shortening was carefully observed. The average shortening of clavicle was 0.71±8.1 cm. After a follow-up of 3 months’ clavicle shortening was calculated. The outcome was linked to amount of clavicle shortening among patients Conclusion: The study was done to find the functional outcome of non-operatively treated displaced mid-shaft clavicle fractures in the adult as compared with the operatively treated patients. The results showed that non-operative management of minimally displaced mid shaft clavicle fracture also had good functional outcome. Keywords: Clavicle fracture and the non-operative treatment.

Objectives:Dual plate fixation has been proposed as a solution to the high rates of reoperation secondary to operative management of displaced midshaft clavicle fractures. Previous studies have recommended dual plating for patients specifically at higher risk of reoperation. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare reoperation rates among patients who underwent single superior, single anterior, and dual plating while adjusting for risk factors including age, smoking status, and high-risk fracture morphology. We hypothesized lower rates of reoperation among patients who underwent dual plate fixation.Methods:This was a retrospective cohort study of all patients who presented with a midshaft clavicle fracture and underwent ORIF between 2007 and 2021 to our trauma/sports divisions. Patient demographics, fracture pattern, plating technique, postoperative complications, date of surgery, reoperation status, date of last follow up, and date of reoperation were documented. We report hazard ratio (HR) estimates using a multivariate multilevel mixed-effects parametric survival model, which accounted for patients with multiple reoperations and adjusted for covariates.Results:A cohort of 395 patients (mean age 38.5±14.4 years, 81.7% male) were identified with average follow-up of 5.5±8.6 months. There were 77 z-type, 157 transverse, and 161 oblique fractures. With regards to plating technique, 152 underwent single superior plating, 149 experienced single anterior plating, and 94 had dual plating. After initial operation, there were 8 total instances of non-union (2.0%), 0 in the dual plating cohort (0%), 4 in the superior plating cohort (2.6%), and 4 in the anterior plating cohort (2.7%) (p=0.35). A total of 28 reoperations took place among 19 patients (4.8%), with 6 patients experiencing multiple reoperations.Single plating with superior placement revealed the highest reoperation rate of 0.26 per person-years, followed by anterior placement with 0.17 per person-years, and finally dual plating with 0.02 per person-years (Figure 1). Patients who underwent single plating (either anterior or superior placement) revealed a greater rate of reoperation when compared to patients who underwent dual plating (HR: 8.3, p=0.045). Patients who underwent single plating with superior placement had a rate of reoperation ten- times greater than patients who underwent dual plating (HR:10.1, p=0.03). Patients who underwent single plating with anterior placement had a rate of reoperation six-times greater than patients who underwent dual plating (HR: 6.4, p=0.09), although not statistically significant.Conclusions:Dual plate fixation of displaced midshaft clavicle fractures has an eight-fold lower risk of reoperation compared to single plate fixation, while accounting for age, smoking, and high-risk fracture morphology. More specifically, dual plating had lower rates of reoperation than both single plating with anterior and superior placement. When operative management is indicated for a midshaft clavicle fracture, dual plating may be an excellent treatment alternative in patients at high risk for reoperation.

Functional outcomes, union rate, and complications of the Anser Clavicle Pin at 1 year: a novel intramedullary device in managing midshaft clavicle fractures

Background: Midshaft fractures account for between 69 and 82 per cent of all cases of clavicle fracture, which are among the most frequent orthopedic injuries. Displaced midshaft clavicular fractures are traditionally managed non-operatively. However, conservative treatment has been shown to result in higher rates of nonunion, malunion and poor functional outcomes. Consequently, there has been a shift toward surgical fixation to enhance union rates and improve shoulder function. Among surgical options, plate fixation is widely favored for its reliability, though the choice between anatomical locking compression plates (LCP) and dynamic compression plates (DCP) remains debated. Aim: The aim is to compare the short-term clinical outcomes of using anatomical LCP and DCP to treat displaced midshaft clavicle fractures in adults. Methods: A prospective randomized clinical trial was conducted at Al-Imamein Al-Kadhimaein Medical City in Baghdad, Iraq, from January 2021 to January 2022. Twenty adult patients with unilateral displaced midshaft clavicle fractures were randomly assigned to two groups: Group A (LCP) and Group B (DCP). Results: The mean age was 26.8 ± 3.9 years, with males comprising 65% of the sample. No significant difference was observed in wound infection rates between groups (P = 0.839). However, symptomatic hardware prominence was significantly higher in the DCP group (P = 0.039). The LCP group demonstrated a significantly shorter time to union, though both groups achieved a 100% union rate. Quick DASH scores favored the LCP group at both 3 and 6 months, reflecting better functional recovery and reduced pain. Conclusion: LCP offers superior outcomes in terms of union time, complication rates, and functional recovery compared to DCP in displaced midshaft clavicle fractures.

Intervention studies of clavicle fracture treatment are numerous, but only a few high quality studies prospectively compare operative and nonoperative treatment. The objective of this study was to review evidence from randomized controlled trials on operative versus nonoperative treatment of displaced midshaft clavicle fractures in adults with focus on fracture healing, complications and functional outcome. An electronic search was performed of PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases which revealed 559 articles. All articles published before October 18th 2012 and written in English, Danish or Swedish were eligible. Articles were excluded if they included children under the age of 16, did not include acute midshaft fractures, included concomitant fractures, did not meet the requirements of Level I evidence according to Centre for evidence based medicine 2009 guidelines, were systematic reviews or meta-analyses, or did not compare operative and nonoperative treatment. Articles were parsed for relevance by two reviewers independently regarding title, abstract, and full text. Extraction of data was done by both reviewers in collaboration and sorted according to the aims of the study. Complications were grouped according to additional surgery required. The quality of studies was assessed by both reviewers in unison using Critical Appraisal Skills Programme 2010 checklists. It seems like operative intervention leads to fewer nonunions at the cost of an increase in minor complications compared to nonoperative treatment. However, the effects of operation on functional outcome remains controversial. High quality evidence is currently sparse supporting either operative or nonoperative treatment on displaced midshaft clavicle fractures in adults.

Plate fixation or intramedullary fixation for midshaft clavicle fractures: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and observational studies

We sought to evaluate clinical and biomechanical outcomes of dual mini-fragment plate fixation for clavicle fractures. We hypothesized that this technique would produce an anatomical reduction with good clinical outcomes, be well tolerated by patients, and demonstrate equivalent biomechanics to single plating. Dual mini-fragment plating was performed for 17 isolated, displaced midshaft clavicle fractures. Functional outcomes and complications were retrospectively reviewed. A sawbones model compared dual plating biomechanics to a (1) superior 3.5-mm locking reconstruction plate, or (2) antero-inferior 3.5-mm locking reconstruction plate. On biomechanical testing, with anterior loading, dual plating was significantly more rigid than single locked anterior-plating (p = 0.02) but less rigid than single locked superior-plating (p = 0.001). With superior loading, dual plating trended toward higher rigidity versus single locked superior-plating (p = 0.07) but was less rigid than single locked anterior-plating (p = 0.03). No statistically significant differences in axial loading (p = 0.27) or torsion (p = 0.23) were detected. Average patient follow-up was 16.1 months (12-38). Anatomic reduction was achieved and maintained through final healing (average 14.7 weeks). No patient underwent hardware removal. Average 1-year DASH score was 4.0 (completed in 88 %). Displaced midshaft clavicle fractures can be effectively managed with dual mini-fragment plating. This technique results in high union rates and excellent clinical outcomes. Compared to single plating, dual plating is biomechanically equivalent in axial loading and torsion, yet offers better multi-planar bending stiffness despite the use of smaller plates. This technique may decrease the need for secondary surgery due to implant prominence and may aid in fracture reduction by buttressing butterfly fragments in two planes.

BackgroundMidshaft clavicle fractures are one of the most familiar fractures. And, dual small plate fixation has been reported as can minimize hardware-related complications. However, the biomechanical properties of the dual small plate fixation have not yet been thoroughly evaluated. Here, we report the results of a finite element analysis of the biomechanical properties of midshaft clavicle fractures treated with dual small plating and superior and anteroinferior single plate fixation.MethodsA three-dimensional (3D) finite element model of the midshaft clavicle fractures was created, whose 4-mm transverse fracture gap, having an angle < 30 degree and devoid of overlapping triangles, was simulated between the fractured segments of the middle-shaft of the clavicle. The equivalent von Mises stress and displacement of the model was used as the output measures for analysis.ResultsNo significant differences were found between dual plating, superior or anteroinferior single plating in cantilever bending, axial compression, and axial torsion. Dual plating with a smaller plate-screw construct is biomechanically eligible to compare with superior and anteroinferior single plate fixation using larger plate-screw constructs.ConclusionsThis study demonstrated that larger plate-screw constructs for the treatment of simple are placed clavicular fractures; however, weight-bearing and exorbitant shoulder activity should be avoided after the operation. Therefore, dual plating may provide a viable option for fixing midshaft clavicle fractures and, thus, may be preferred for patients who need early activity.