PATIENT-ORIENTED OUTCOME FOLLOWING OPEN REDUCTION AND INTERNAL FIXATION OF CLAVICULAR SHAFT NONUNION: THE EFFECT OF TIME TO REPAIR

Abstract

Using patient-oriented outcome measures, we examined twenty-six patients following surgical repair of clavicular nonunion. Patient satisfaction was high, and there was only a minor degree of residual disability (mean DASH score 14.5, SF-36 scores within normal range). Time from injury to surgical repair did not influence results.

Using modern, patient-oriented limb-specific outcome measures, we sought to determine the effect of time to repair on patient satisfaction following surgical fixation of nonunion of the clavicular shaft.

As measured by the DASH and SF-36, patient satisfaction was high following clavicular nonunion repair with only minor degrees of residual disability. Time to repair did not have a significant effect on outcome.

Previous reports of clavicular nonunion repair have concentrated on radiographic or surgeon-based criteria. Our study shows that successful clavicular nonunion repair effectively restores upper extremity function and general health status to near-normal levels.

We identified twenty-six patients who had undergone open reduction, internal fixation of a nonunion of the clavicular shaft. There were sixteen men and ten women, with a mean age of forty-four years (range thirty to seventy-one years). The mean duration of nonunion was 1.9 years with a range from four months to thirty-one years. All patients underwent fixation with a plate, and 73% of patients also underwent iliac crest bone grafting. Two nonunions required revision surgery for healing: twenty-four healed after the index procedure. We assessed patient outcome using standard history and physical, radiographs, and the DASH and SF-36 outcome instruments. The mean DASH score (0 = perfect, 100 = complete disability, “normal” = 10) was 14.5 (range 0 to 58), indicating good restoration of upper extremity function with mild residual disability. SF-36 scores were within the normal range. There was no significant difference in DASH or SF-36 scores between those fixed “early” (< six months) and those repaired “late” (> six months), p=0.30, p=0.78, respectively.

Using patient-oriented outcome measures, we examined twenty-six patients following surgical repair of clavicular nonunion. Patient satisfaction was high, and there was only a minor degree of residual disability (mean DASH score 14.5, SF-36 scores within normal range). Time from injury to surgical repair did not influence results.