Abstract
Background: Patients suffering from medial clavicle fractures combined with displacement need surgical intervention. This research reports the effect of double-plate fixation as an innovative procedure in the treatment of extremely medial clavicle fractures.Methods: Nine patients complaint of extremely medial clavicle fracture were enrolled in this research from Mar 2017 to March 2018. Patients were treated with an open reduction and internal fixation using the double-plate technique. Postoperative X-ray was taken regularly to observe the fracture healing at each visit, and the related complications were also recorded. The rating score systems of Constant Murley score of treated shoulder and contralateral shoulder, Rowe score as well as American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) were questionnaire to evaluate postoperative shoulder joint function.Results: All patients achieved postoperative fracture healing with no complications. Only one patient complained of slight restriction, two patients complained of pain during overhead work, and another patient occurred plate breakage. Meanwhile, the Constant Murley scores of treated and contralateral shoulder were 94.1 and 98.5 points, respectively, indicating the similar shoulder function. Furthermore, the Rowe and ASES scores of the involved shoulder were 96.7 and 96.3 points at average, respectively.Conclusions: It is the first time to introduce the surgical technique of vertical double-plate fixation for stable fixation of extremely medial clavicle fractures, which could provide the surgeons an alternative method for this type of fracture.