Comparative study of open reduction and internal fixation versus conservative management in acute clavicle shaft fracture in adults

Comparative study of open reduction and internal fixation versus conservative management in acute clavicle shaft fracture in adults - Background: In adults, clavicle fractures account for 2.5–10% of all fractures. Patients over 70 years old and young male patients under 30 years old are more at risk. The most common causes are falls onto an outstretched hand or direct blows to the shoulder, particularly in sports or road traffic accidents. Materials and Methods: In this study, 60 cases were selected and distributed in two groups. Group A was managed conservatively & group B managed operatively of clavicle shaft fractures in adults, meeting the inclusion & exclusion criteria were treated by operative & non-operative methods. Statistical analysis was executed with an unpaired t-test to assess the significant differences between the 2 groups. Twenty patients (Group A) were treated conservatively, while 40 patients (Group B) were treated operatively. Occurrence of malunion among the 60 cases, with malunion observed in 10.0% of cases (6 individuals) and absent in 90.0% (54 individual). Result: At follow ups, 10% of total clavicular patient’s management under both groups had malunion of which mean time of 3.65 months in group A and 2.98 months in group B, constant Murley score at 3 months was found to be 79.45 and 80.68 in group A and B respectively. Results also comprises of complications including implant prominence, variation in clavicle length, sensation over anterio-medial shoulder. Conclusion: Based on our study of patients with clavicle fractures, it can be concluded that the operative group had significantly better outcomes compared to the conservatively managed group, as measured by the Murley score. Keywords: Clavicle shaft fracture, Conservative management, Operative management.