Incidence
With an incidence of 64/100,000, clavicle fractures are one of the most common fractures.
Therapeutic options
Intramedullary fixation with Prevot nails was initially reported in the late 1990s by the investigative team at the University of Cologne. This procedure offers minimally invasive stabilization of the fracture, thus, enabling immediate mobilization and rapid loading capacity. Currently, this technique is popular because of the minimal patient burden and faster recovery. Previously, the majority of fractures were treated conservatively. Today, the percentage of operatively treated fractures has increased significantly.
Treament selection
In cases with 2 or 3 fracture fragments with severe displacement and/or shortening of more than 1.75 cm, intramedullary stabilization should be performed because it results in better functional outcome than conservative treatment. If closed reduction is not possible, open reduction may be performed. In cases of displaced, multifragment fractures or nonhealing, plate fixation is the therapy of choice.