Conservative Treatment of Medial Shaft Clavicle Fracture with Borderline Criteria: A Case Report

Abstract

Clavicle fractures account for 3% of all fractures in adult population. Usually, surgical treatment is the gold standard for fracture with dislocation > 2 cm, shortening > 2 cm and angulation > 30 ° or comminution, especially in young or active patients, due to the relatively high risk of non-union. In our study, we report the case of a 50-years old patient, with high functional requests, with a middle shaft clavicle fracture, presenting borderline criteria. We treated him conservatively with figure of 8-bandage for five weeks. After removal of the bandage, patient performed physiotherapy and at final follow-up patient showed a nearly complete ROM despite a non-optimal radiographic outcome. Conservative treatment is a valid option in borderline middle shaft fractures, even in mature patient requiring high functional outcomes.