Damien O'Connor1, Satish Kutty, John P McCabe. 1. Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, Merlin Park Regional and University College Hospitals, Galway, Ireland.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The aim of our study was to assess the long-term functional and radiological outcome of clavicular non-union in patients treated with open reduction and bone grafting. A total of 24 non-unions treated between 1994 and 2001 were analysed using chart and radiological review and assessed with the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) DASH questionnaire. RESULTS: There were 13 males and 10 females with a mean age of 37.95 (range 21-65) years. One patient had bilateral injuries. The average time from injury to operation was 10.3 (range 4-29) months and the average follow-up post-operatively was 42.1 (range 6-75) months. All patients were treated using a dynamic compression or reconstruction plate with autogenous bone grafting. Twenty-two of the 24 non-unions eventually healed. DASH assessment indicated a higher level of disability in the treated group than found in the normal population. This only proved significant in the sub-population of patients with associated co-morbidities. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the long-term outcome results of this procedure indicate it to be a well-tolerated and successful operation in treating the disability and pain associated with clavicular non-union. Most patients return to a daily level of function close to the general population. Patients with associated co-morbidities should have these treated pre-operatively for best results.
INTRODUCTION: The aim of our study was to assess the long-term functional and radiological outcome of clavicular non-union in patients treated with open reduction and bone grafting. A total of 24 non-unions treated between 1994 and 2001 were analysed using chart and radiological review and assessed with the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) DASH questionnaire. RESULTS: There were 13 males and 10 females with a mean age of 37.95 (range 21-65) years. One patient had bilateral injuries. The average time from injury to operation was 10.3 (range 4-29) months and the average follow-up post-operatively was 42.1 (range 6-75) months. All patients were treated using a dynamic compression or reconstruction plate with autogenous bone grafting. Twenty-two of the 24 non-unions eventually healed. DASH assessment indicated a higher level of disability in the treated group than found in the normal population. This only proved significant in the sub-population of patients with associated co-morbidities. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the long-term outcome results of this procedure indicate it to be a well-tolerated and successful operation in treating the disability and pain associated with clavicular non-union. Most patients return to a daily level of function close to the general population. Patients with associated co-morbidities should have these treated pre-operatively for best results.
Authors: Laura A Schemitsch; Emil H Schemitsch; Christian Veillette; Rad Zdero; Michael D McKee Journal: Clin Orthop Relat Res Date: 2011-12 Impact factor: 4.176
Authors: Marc Schnetzke; Christian Morbitzer; Sara Aytac; Matthias Erhardt; Christian Frank; Matthias Muenzberg; Stefan Studier-Fischer; Lars Helbig; Arnold J Suda; Paul-Alfred Gruetzner; Thorsten Guehring Journal: J Orthop Surg Res Date: 2015-01-09 Impact factor: 2.359