Abstract: Background: With the increasing incidence of clavicle fractures due to road traffic accidents more emphasis is being given in the management of these fractures which brings about the debate of whether clavicle mid shaft fractures treated operatively yield better results compared to traditional conservative management. The incidence of clavicle fracture ranges from 36 to 64 per 100,000 people every year. The treatment over the years has been to manage midshaft fractures of the clavicle conservatively, however there has been a recent trend in the increase in the operative management of these fractures which may be done by either plate fixation or intramedullary nailing. There have been various papers published to compare the study between surgical and conservative management in the treatment of clavicle fractures. There has been no conclusion regarding the debate between conservative and operative management of these fractures so we decided to bring about a comparison study between patient-oriented outcome and complication rates following conservative treatment and those after operative treatment of displaced midshaft clavicular fractures.
Objectives: To compare the functional outcome and complication rates in patients following conservative management and those after operative treatment of displaced midshaft clavicular fractures.
Materials and Methods: The sample size included 50 patients with a displaced midshaft fracture of the clavicle who presented to Dr D.Y. Patil Hospital, Pimpri, Pune from Feb 2017 to Aug 2017 and who were treated either by conservative or operative methods of treatment and who were in regular follow up. The Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) and Constant scores was used for Functional assessment in these patients which was done at 1 month, 3 months and 6 months. Complications, if any in these patient were recorded.
Results: Better DASH and Constant scores along with better anatomic reduction were found in the group managed Operatively than in the group which was managed Conservatively.
Conclusion: Operative treatment resulted in early return to function and better anatomic reduction as compared to conservative treatment but at the cost of complications like infection and other implant related problems.
