Excision of a bony spike without fixation of the fractured clavicle in a jockey.

Various modalities are available for treatment of a clavicle fracture. Conservative treatment is successful in most cases. Open reduction, when indicated, usually is accompanied by fixation of the fracture. In the case of a jockey with a fractured clavicle, the fracture was complicated by tenting of the skin. The fracture was opened and a bony spike was excised extraperiosteally without doing internal fixation of the fracture to avoid skin necrosis and allow early return to work. The patient returned to his profession 2 weeks after surgery. Radiologic and clinical examinations revealed a satisfactory outcome at the 6-month followup.