At 6-week, 6-month, and 1-year follow-ups, they found no difference across cohorts in Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score, visual analog scale pain level, time to return to previous activities, or cosmetic dissatisfaction. However, the authors note that seven nonsurgical patients (14.9 percent) developed nonunion, compared to none in the surgical group. Further, nonsurgically treated patients displayed radiographic evidence of greater clavicle shortening compared with those in the surgical cohort, and more patients in that group answered "yes" when asked if their clavicle felt short and if they felt bone prominence. In the surgical group, more patients answered "yes" when asked if they felt paresthesia. Learn more...