Intramedullary stabilization of dislocated clavicle fractures with a compression rod

Despite the favorable prognosis of conservative treatment for clavicle fractures, unsatisfactory consequences reach 10–30 % cases. Surgical methods of treatment for dislocated clavicle fractures, such as osteosynthesis with a plate or an elastic titanium rod, are mostly used in practice. The disadvantage of the latter is the possible migration of the implant with perforation of the skin. The purpose was to study the effectiveness of an intramedullary rod, improved by us, for osteosynthesis of dislocated clavicle fractures type OTA 15A and OTA 15B according to the AO/ASIF classification. The essence of the improvement was the possibility of closed minimally invasive intramedullary osteosynthesis of the clavicle body, with a simplified technique of the surgical intervention itself, prevention of implant migration. The latter was achieved by the fact that one of the ends of the rod had a drill, which eliminated the need for predrilling the medullary cavity of the clavicle to insert the rod, and its opposite end had a thread onto which a nut is screwed to achieve compression between the clavicular fragments. Forty-two patients with closed dislocated clavicle fractures were under supervision in the clinic of traumatology and orthopedics of Kyiv City Clinical Hospital 6. They underwent intramedullary osteosynthesis for clavicle fractures with an improved compressing rod (closed in 28 cases, open in 14) under regional anesthesia. In dyna-mics of the postoperative period, a clinical and radiological examination was performed, the severity of the pain syndrome and the function of the upper limb were assessed according to the visual analog scale (VAS), Disability of Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH). As shown by the results of X-ray examinations, the average period of clavicle fracture union was 10.1 ± 1.4 weeks (range 8–12 weeks). During the observation of the patients, favorable dynamics on the VAS and DASH were noted; by the end of the study (12 months after the operation), the functional capabilities of the upper limb on the DASH corresponded to 1.54 ± 0.84 points, VAS score was 9.60 ± 2.11 points. The improved construction of the intramedullary rod for osteosynthesis of dislocated clavicle fractures of the OTA 15A and OTA 15B type can be recommended for use in practice, as it has demonstrated favorable clinical, radiological, and functional outcomes.