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Clavicle fractures in adults; current concepts

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European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

For decades, clavicle fractures have been treated conservatively. In the last 20 years, however, non-union rates after conservative treatment appear higher than previously reported and more evidence regarding operative treatment has become available. This has led to a paradigm shift towards an increase in operative treatment. The aim of this review is to present the current concepts and available evidence regarding clavicle fracture treatment.

Methods

Conservative and operative treatment options together with their indications for medial, shaft and lateral clavicle fractures are discussed. For all three anatomical locations, a treatment algorithm is proposed.

Conclusion

In general, non-displaced fractures are treated conservatively. Operative treatment has to be discussed with patients with displaced clavicle fractures, especially in the young and active patient.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Michelle Reynolds for the excellent copy-editing of this manuscript.

Funding

There was no external source of funding for this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Trauma Surgery, Kantonsspital Graubünden, Loëstrasse 170, 7000, Chur, Switzerland

    Herman Frima, Christian Michelitsch & Christoph Sommer

  2. Department of Surgery, Diakonessenhuis, Bosboomstraat 1, 3582 KE, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Mark van Heijl

  3. Institut Universitaire de Locomotion et du Sport, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice, Hôpital Pasteur 2, Nice, France

    Olivier van der Meijden

  4. Department of Trauma Surgery, Luzerner Kantonsspital, Spitalstrasse 16, 6000, Lucerne, Switzerland

    Frank J. P. Beeres

  5. Utrecht Traumacenter, Universitair Medisch Centrum Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Roderick M. Houwert

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  1. Herman Frima
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Correspondence to Herman Frima.

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Conflict of interest

Herman Frima, Mark van Heijl, Christian Michelitsch, Olivier van der Meijden, Frank J.P. Beeres, Roderick M. Houwert and Christoph Sommer declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Frima, H., van Heijl, M., Michelitsch, C. et al. Clavicle fractures in adults; current concepts. Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg 46, 519–529 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00068-019-01122-4

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