Abstract
BACKGROUND: Within traumatology a common indication for acute surgery of fractured clavicles is bone shortening over 2 cm. This indication is among but a few indications; which are recommended to be treated operatively within the very first weeks after a fracture. Theoretically clavicle fractures could become less shortened over time due to decreasing muscle pull. If this reduced shortening does indeed happen, some patients with initial bone shortening over 2 cm could perhaps be treated conservatively? However, it is unknown what happens to the length of the clavicle within the first weeks after a fracture. The aim of this study was to investigate if the length of the fresh fractured clavicles changes within the first three weeks.
METHODS: Rested length measurements using navigation ultrasound were done on 59 patients with a fractured clavicle. Measurements were performed within the first three weeks after a lateral or mid-clavicular fracture. The inclusion period was from March 2014 to February 2016. Median age was 40 years and age range was 18-81 years. The data was analyzed using mixed linear models.
RESULTS: The clavicle length showed no change within the first three weeks after fracture (p = 0.24).
CONCLUSION: Fractured clavicles retain their length for the first three weeks.
Originalsprog | Engelsk |
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Artikelnummer | 503 |
Tidsskrift | BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders |
Vol/bind | 18 |
Antal sider | 5 |
ISSN | 1471-2474 |
DOI | |
Status | Udgivet - 29 nov. 2017 |
Udgivet eksternt | Ja |