Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Open reduction is generally not advocated for the treatment of children clavicle fracture, because the thick and tough periosteum remains intact and attached by the ligament attachment. In clinic, twin-ring external fixation and simple suspension are commonly used, but there is no reliable basis on which method can get better effect.
OBJECTIVE: To compare the stability of twin-ring external fixation and simple suspension for the treatment of children clavicle fracture.
METHODS: The patients with children clavicle fracture and treated by twin-ring external fixation and simple suspension were selected from June 2008 to December 2012, including 17 patients treated with simple suspension and 22 patients treated with twin-ring external fixation. The X-ray film examination was performed regularly to observe the fracture healing and shoulder function.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The 17 patients treated with simple suspension had good healing; three cases had gap between fracture ends at 1 week after treatment, and re-suspension to increase the height and finally two fracture ends contacted in one case; for the other two cases, there was still gap between fracture ends, and changed for twin-ring external fixation, the fracture ends contacted. All the 22 patients in the twin-ring external fixation group obtained healing; five cases had performance of upper extremity neurovascular compression on the fracture side after fixation; after releasing, three cases had recovery, and two cases were treated with simple suspension, the fracture ends began to contact; six cases had armpit redness; four cases had early sleep difficulties; two cases had gap between fracture ends at 1 week after treatment, and after re-adjust, the fracture ends contacted in two cases. The results showed both two methods could not cause appearance deformity, and both could get healing. The simple suspension fixation is easy to operate with reliable effect, and it is comfortable which make it easy to accept by the children, it has the advantages of early for functional exercise, less tissue damage, does not affect the blood supply; the twin-ring external fixation is easy to compress the axillary arteries and nerves on both sides, thus resulting in upper extremity swelling, numbness and skin redness, and it can cause discomfort night sleeping and poor comfort which is not easy for children to accept. But, no matter what method we take, the review after 1 week, as well as the line between proximal and distal part and the contact between fracture ends is still important.