Functional Recovery in Patients with Clavicle Fracture According To Treatment Techniques

Abstract

Introduction: Historically, clavicle fractures were treated conservatively, because the nonunion rate was very low. However, over time, complications and lack of functional recovery were found in some patients, which is why surgical treatment or osteosynthesis began to be used, which varies according to the technique used.

Objective: To determine the efficacy of conservative treatment, osteosynthesis, in the superior and anteroinferior aspect, with respect to the functional recovery of adult patients with clavicle fracture.

Methods: An analytical, observational, retrospective cohort study was carried out in ninety patients aged 18 to 80 years, of both sexes, seen from January 2015 to December 2019 for clavicle fracture. They were evaluated at Víctor Lazarte Echegaray Hospital in Trujillo. They were classified into three groups according to the treatment technique used and a survey was carried out 6 months after treatment to assess functional recovery according to Quick DASH score.

Results: The treatment of osteosynthesis of the anteroinferior face in comparison to the conservative one and osteosynthesis in the superior face showed better functional result, low late morbidity and shorter time of incapacity for work (p <0.05).

Conclusions: There were differences between the three assessed treatments. The osteosynthesis treatment in the anteroinferior aspect was the most effective, as it showed better functional results, low late morbidity and shorter time off work.