An effective nonabsorbable suture technique for distal clavicle fractures.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical and radiologic outcomes of unstable distal clavicle fractures in patients who underwent indirect fracture fixation by performing augmentation with nonabsorbable sutures.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

In this descriptive observational study, 16 patients (11 males, 5 females; mean age: 34.8±12.1 years; range, 18 to 67 years) who underwent indirect fracture fixation using nonabsorbable sutures for Neer type IIB distal clavicle fractures between January 2014 and September 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the Constant-Murley score and Visual Analog Scale.

RESULTS

Complete union was achieved in all patients, and mean union time was 45.3± 8.4 (range, 30 to 68) days. There were no patients with loss of reduction, infection, or requirement for additional surgery.

CONCLUSION

The coracoclavicular fixation method, which was applied using nonabsorbent sutures in a limited number of Neer type IIB clavicle fractures, provides a suitable and stable fixation comparable to classical techniques.