
Sep 28, 2022 / Sports Medicine
Does my child need surgery to fix a clavicle fracture?
Pediatric orthopedic surgeons Henry B. Ellis, M.D., and Philip L. Wilson, M.D., along with colleagues from the multicenter study group Factors Associated with Clavicle Treatment Study (FACTS) have published another set of findings in the American Journal of Sports Medicine. This group, like many others in pediatric orthopedics and sports medicine, merges the experiences and data from across institutions to provide the best evidence for care in the pediatric population. This group focuses their efforts on collarbone (clavicle) fractures and injuries in children and adolescents.
Here are some highlights from the publication. You can also visit the journal’s website to read the full article.
This study, Two-Year Functional Outcomes of Operative vs Nonoperative Treatment of Completely Displaced Midshaft Clavicle Fractures in Adolescents: Results from the Prospective Multicenter FACTS Study Group, was published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine in September 2022.
Learn more about our involvement with the Factors Associated with Clavicle Treatment Study (FACTS) study group.
Here are some highlights from the publication. You can also visit the journal’s website to read the full article.
- Midshaft clavicle fractures most often occur in adolescents, yet, most medical evidence is in adults until now.
- More than 400 patients (10 to 18 years) with 100% displaced clavicle fractures were included in the study.
- After two years, there was no difference in outcomes between those that had surgery and those that did not.
- Those who underwent surgery had more nerve damage (loss of sensation on their chest wall) and more second surgery to remove plates and screws.
- The study conclusion states, “Surgery demonstrated no benefit in patient-reported quality of life, satisfaction, shoulder-specific function or prevention of complications after completely displaced clavicle shaft fractures in adolescents at two years after injury.”
This study, Two-Year Functional Outcomes of Operative vs Nonoperative Treatment of Completely Displaced Midshaft Clavicle Fractures in Adolescents: Results from the Prospective Multicenter FACTS Study Group, was published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine in September 2022.
Learn more about our involvement with the Factors Associated with Clavicle Treatment Study (FACTS) study group.