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Study finds increased rate of ORIF performed for clavicle fractures among residency candidates
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Among residency candidates who took the second part of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery examination, investigators of this study found an increased rate of open reduction and internal fixation performed for clavicle fractures and a low complication rate.
Researchers reviewed the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS) database and identified 2,895 cases of Current Procedural Terminology code 23515 for open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of clavicle fractures from 1999 to 2010. Investigators calculated the ORIF procedure rate for each year and the number of procedures each candidate performed to determine whether there was change in the frequency of ORIF procedures performed. Data on complications and outcomes were also reviewed.
Findings showed a statistically significant increase in 2010 vs. 1999 in the mean number of clavicle ORIF procedures performed among all candidates as well as the mean number of procedures performed per candidate. Investigators noted there was a difference in the percentage of candidates from part two of the examination who performed ORIF of clavicle fractures from the start of the study to its end.
According to researchers, there was a significant increase in the percentage of total clavicle ORIF cases from 0.11% to 0.74%. Hardware failure was the most common complication, which occurred in 4% of cases. ‒ by Monica Jaramillo
Disclosures: Navarro reports he is a board or committee member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons. Please see the full study for a list of all other authors’ relevant financial disclosures.
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