Clavicle fractures and high-grade acromioclavicular joint injuries do not affect posture and thoracic kyphosis in young adults: A prospective comparative study.

PURPOSE: Clavicle fractures and high-grade acromioclavicular joint injuries are frequently associated with altered shoulder-girdle function, but their impact on spinal posture remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate whether these periclavicular injuries are associated with clinically relevant alterations in thoracic or cervical spinal alignment that would justify targeted spinal assessment or intervention.

METHODS

In this prospective comparative study, 45 patients with periclavicular injuries and 52 age-matched healthy controls were assessed using rasterstereography to quantify spinal alignment in the sagittal (cervical plumb line distance, kyphosis and trunk inclination angles) and coronal planes (lateral deviation and plumbline deviation). The primary outcome was thoracic kyphosis angle. Subgroup analyses were performed based on injury chronicity (acute vs. subacute) and side dominance.

RESULTS

No significant differences in thoracic kyphosis or coronal/sagittal spinal parameters were observed between patients and controls, leading to rejection of the study hypothesis. Injury chronicity and side dominance did not influence outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Periclavicular injuries are not associated with increased thoracic kyphosis on static posture assessment. These findings suggest that routine concern for structural thoracic kyphosis after clavicle fractures or high-grade acromioclavicular joint injuries may be unwarranted in the context of static assessment.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II, prospective comparative study.