BACKGROUND:
Recent clinical studies in adults have reported a higher incidence of symptomatic malunions and functional deficits in nonoperatively treated shortened midshaft clavicular fractures. We sought to determine whether functional or subjective deficits are found in adolescents after operative versus nonoperative treatment of clavicle fractures.
METHODS:
Adolescents with displaced midshaft clavicle fractures, >15 mm of shortening, and a minimum of 9 months of follow-up were recruited. Exclusion criteria included concomitant upper extremity injuries or abnormalities that would affect biomechanical strength testing. Sixteen patients, equally divided between nonoperative and operative plate fixation, met inclusion criteria and consented to testing. The average age (±SD) at the time of injury was 14±2 years (range, 10 to 16 y), time from injury was 22±10 months (range, 10 to 41 mo), and shortening was 24±6 mm (range, 16 to 35 mm).
