Safety and efficacy of using 2.4/2.4 mm and 2.0/2.4 mm dual mini-fragment plate combinations for fixation of displaced diaphyseal clavicle fractures.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of using lower profile 2.4/2.4 mm and 2.0/2.4 mm dual mini-fragment plate constructs for fixation of diaphyseal clavicle fractures.


METHODS
This was a retrospective case series of all displaced diaphyseal clavicle fractures treated with 2.4/2.4 and 2.0/2.4 dual mini-fragment plate constructs at a single level-one trauma center. Postoperative complications and fracture healing rates were recorded. A subset of patients with long-term follow up was used to determine the rate of reoperation for symptomatic implant removal.


RESULTS
All 36 identified fractures healed without loss of reduction or implant failure. There was one superficial infection and no deep infections or cases of wound dehiscence. Twenty patients from the entire cohort had longer-term follow up available to assess the reoperation rate for symptomatic implant removal. Two patients (10%) underwent symptomatic implant removal, and one patient with retained implants was planning on future removal due to soft-tissue irritation; this combined to a projected reoperation rate of 15% for symptomatic implant removal.


CONCLUSION
Dual mini-fragment plating of diaphyseal clavicle fractures, using 2.4/2.4 mm and 2.0/2.4 mm plate combinations, creates a lower profile construct that reliably maintains fracture reduction to healing, and has a low rate of reoperation for symptomatic implant removal.
['Chen|Michael J|MJ|', 'DeBaun|Malcolm R|MR|', 'Salazar|Brett P|BP|', 'Lai|Cara|C|', 'Bishop|Julius A|JA|', 'Gardner|Michael J|MJ|']
D000328:Adult D000368:Aged D001860:Bone Plates D002968:Clavicle D020878:Device Removal D005260:Female D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal D017102:Fracture Healing D050723:Fractures, Bone D006801:Humans D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D011183:Postoperative Complications D012086:Reoperation D012189:Retrospective Studies D055815:Young Adult
Clavicle fracture Symptomatic implants Implant removal Dual plating