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Complications

Authoring team

  • mal-union is common, but thought to be more desirable than the internal fixation necessary to prevent it
  • non-union is uncommon;
  • risk factors for non-union of midshaft clavicle fractures include:
    • clavicle shortening > 15–20 mm
    • female sex
    • fracture comminution
    • fracture displacement
    • greater extent of initial trauma
    • older age
  • only consider internal fixation if symptomatic (which patients rarely are)
  • deformity:

may be distressing especially to parents of children in whom the size of the callus may be quite considerable

callus can be removed

  • damage to vessels and nerves is very rare

Reference

  1. Pecci M, Kreher JB. Clavicle fractures. Am Fam Physician. 2008;77(1):65-70.

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