Results of Hook Plate Fixation of Unstable Distal Clavicle Fractures

Hoon-Sang Sohn; Byung Chul Jo

doi:10.12671/jkfs.2011.24.4.335

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Sohn and Jo: Results of Hook Plate Fixation of Unstable Distal Clavicle Fractures

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Fracture Society

Journal of the Korean Fracture Society 2011; 24(4): 335-340.

Published online: 30 October 2011

DOI: https://doi.org/10.12671/jkfs.2011.24.4.335

Results of Hook Plate Fixation of Unstable Distal Clavicle Fractures

Hoon-Sang Sohn, M.D., Byung Chul Jo, M.D.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, National Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.

Address reprint requests to: Hoon-Sang Sohn, M.D. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, National Medical Center, Euljiro, 243, Jung-gu, Seoul 100-799, Korea. Tel: 82-2-2260-7192, Fax: 82-2-2278-9570, shshs8383@naver.com

Received 11 April 2011 Revised 12 May 2011 Accepted 14 July 2011

(open-access):

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Purpose

This study evaluated the clinical and radiological outcomes of unstable distal clavicular fractures treated with an AO Hook plate.

Materials and Methods

From March 2009 to October 2010, sixteen patients with distal clavicular fractures underwent open plating using an AO Hook plate. The clinical outcomes were assessed by measuring the UCLA scores and KSS sores, and the radiological outcomes were evaluated using simple radiographs at the final follow-up.

Results

Fracture union was obtained in all patients at an average of 13.9 weeks (range, 9~20 weeks). The UCLA scoring system showed excellent results in 9 cases and good results in 7. The average KSS scores of distal clavicular fractures were 95.5. At the final follow-up, subacromial osteolysis developed in 11 cases (68.7%) of whom 3 suffered from pain around the acromion. Other complications occurred in 4 patients: one had a fracture adjacent to the plate proximally, two had a stiff shoulder with subacromial impingement, and one had hypoesthesia around the surgical wound.

Conclusion

Unstable distal clavicular fractures treated with a Hook plate provided rigid fixation and satisfactory outcomes considering the high union rate. Nevertheless, potential postoperative complications related to morphometric properties of the plate should be considered.

Keywords: Distal clavicular fracture, Hook plate, Subacromial osteolysis

Figures and Tables

Fig. 1

(A) 73-year-old male with a type IIb fracture of the distal clavicle.

(B) The distal clavicular fracture was stabilized with the Hook plate.

(C) Postoperative radiographs at 4 months showed union of the fracture.

Fig. 2

(A) Neer type IIa fracture of clavicle in a 39-year-old man.

(B) Shoulder radiograph obtained immediately postoperatively showed the normal cortical surface of acromion.

(C) At 13 months postopertively, a radiograph showed subacromial radiolucent lesion around the hook tip.

Fig. 3

(A) Clavicular fracture at the medial aspect of the hook plate.

(B) At 18 weeks postoperatively, a radiograph showed union of clavicular midshaft fracture.

Table 1

Details of the 16 cases

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