INTRODUCTIONClavicle is the horizontally placed collar bone that connects the upper limb to the trunk and plays a very important role in mobility and anatomical stability of upper limb. Its subcutaneous position makes it vulnerable to traumatic injuries.1 Fractures which involve the clavicle are very common and account for almost 5-10% of all the fractures and up to around 45% of those which involve the shoulder girdle. Fractures of the mid shaft of the clavicle account for about 80% of all the clavicular fractures.2-5% of all the fractures in the adults and 10-15% in children are estimated to be due to fractures of the clavicle. 2Most of these fractures occur due to a direct blow to the anterior chest wall or by falling on the outstretched hand. The most common site of clavicle fracture is said to be ABSTRACT Background: Fractures which involve the clavicle are very common and account for almost 5-10% of all the fractures and up to around 45% of those which involve the shoulder girdle. Most of these fractures occur due to a direct blow to the anterior chest wall or by falling on the outstretched hand. Traditionally, clavicular fractures have been treated with conservative methods, but the outcome was poor, leading to patient dissatisfaction. An option is the precontoured locking plates which provide immediate relief, stabilization and early mobilization, more so because they do not require further bending. Methods: 50 patients, above 18 years of age, with closed displaced clavicular fractures were included in the study. Clinical evaluation was done for all the patients using the Constant-Murley score. Precontoured locking compression plate was inserted surgically for the treatment of the fracture and follow-up was done for 6 months postoperatively. Results: Out of the 50 patients studied, 42 were males (84%) and 8 (16%) were females. Most of the patients belonged to 21-50 years of the age group. Road traffic accidents were the most common cause (98%) for this type of fractures. Most of the fractures were united by 11-12 weeks of duration (42%), closely followed by a time period of 9-10 weeks (40%). Most of the patients showed full range of movement (84%), while 6% showed movements which were restricted by 20 0 and 10% showed 30 0 restrictions. In 32% of the cases, the outcome was excellent while only 6% of the patients showed a fair outcome. Conclusions: Displaced mid-shaft clavicle fractures treated with precontoured locking compression plates gave good functional outcome and patient satisfaction with excellent reunion rates.

BackgroundDistal radial fractures (DRFs) are a prevalent form of skeletal injuries that hinder a person from performing daily living activities. Although several treatment modalities have been established to manage DRF, an optimal intervention has not been identified for comminuted fractures. The use of locking compression plates (LCPs) is gaining popularity for fractures that cannot be anatomically reduced because they offer better stability and early recovery. Thus, this study aims to investigate the surgical outcome of comminuted intra-articular DRFs treated with LCPs. MethodologyWe performed open reduction and internal fixation in 30 patients (18 males and 12 females) with DRF and were followed up at regular intervals following the surgery (at three, six, twelve, and twenty-four weeks). The surgical outcome was assessed both from functional and radiological standpoints. The influence of LCP on functional outcome was evaluated based on the modified Mayo wrist score and the quality of reduction based on the Lindstrom criteria by observing volar tilt and radial inclination. ResultsFor radiological outcome, there was no variation in tilt/inclination of more than two degrees even after three months, which was a satisfactory result. Moreover, patients of all age groups showed early range of motion and functional benefit from LCP treatment. After six months of treatment, the patients experienced no pain and were able to return to their pre-injury jobs with little difficulty. Range of motion, work status, and grip strength after six months showed improvement of 15%, 7.8%, and 56%, respectively, compared to immediate postoperative assessments at three weeks. Although the end outcome with any treatment modality may yield similar results, when using LCPs, most patients experienced early functional improvement nearly six months after surgery. ConclusionsBy offering a lower risk of complications and early functional mobility, LCPs tend to restore the articular architecture of the fractured joint that results in the desired range of motion, grip strength, improved pain management, and functional status. Thus, LCPs appear to be a better alternative for distal end radial fractures than other treatment modalities.