Abstract
Introduction: The aim of the study was to review the treatment of twenty six patients who had non union of a fracture or osteotomy of the clavicle, with specific attention to the complications of the non union, the techniques used at operation and the outcome of treatment.
Material: There were twenty six patients with clavicular non union. Twenty two patients treated by open reduction and internal fixation, three with partial resection of the clavicle and one with total resection.
Results: The average follow up was 23.4 months. Twenty patients were led to union. Thirteen patients were pain free, whereas the rest had some mild pain. Normal shoulder mobility was noted in fourteen patients. In two patients was necessary to resect the first rib because of symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome.
Conclusion: Clavicular non-union can cause major functional problems, requiring treatment. Careful evaluation is mandatory in order to decide if the non union is amenable to reconstruction procedure or to salvage operation or to non treatment.
The abstracts were prepared by Eleni Koutsoukou. Correspondence should be addressed to him at the Hellenic Association of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology (HAOST), 20, A. Fleming str, 15123 Marousi, Athens, Greece.
