Treatment tactics in pediatric clavicle fractures

Introduction One of the most common injuries in children is clavicle fractures. They account for up to 14 % of all pediatric bone injuries. Aim Comparative evaluation of the effectiveness of surgical and conservative methods of treating closed clavicle fractures in children. Materials and methods Between 2011 and 2018, 1,800 children with clavicle fractures referred to the traumatology and orthopedic department at the Children's Clinical Hospital No. 9 in Yekaterinburg. Most of them were treated conservatively, and 94 (5.2 %) children were hospitalized for surgical treatment. Depending on age and type of displacement, children received different conservative treatments, such as Deso dressing in children under two years old, figure-eight-bandage in children over two years of age. Surgical treatment was open reduction of fragments and fixation with either a Kirschner wire or a titanium elastic nail (TEN); titanium plates were used in several cases. For a comparative assessment of the results of the treatment methods for clavicle fractures, two groups of patients were formed. Results Shortening of consolidated clavicle was not observed in children of the main group treated surgically. In several cases, the elongation of the clavicle was revealed by no more than 1 cm. Patients in the comparison group showed shortening of the broken clavicle in three cases, no more than 1.3 cm. Conclusion After surgical treatment, the length of the shoulder girdle was fully restored; insignificant shortening after conservative treatment did not cause functional disorders.