This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Increased rate of midshaft clavicle fracture displacement found with ipsilateral rib fractures
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
Recently published results showed a significantly increased rate of midshaft clavicle fractures being more than 100% displaced among patients with concomitant ipsilateral rib fractures or fractures that involved the upper one-third of the ribs.
Researchers categorized 243 patients with midshaft clavicle fractures into groups based on whether patients had or did not have ipsilateral rib fractures. Based on anteroposterior radiographs, researchers classified fractures into either less than 100% displacement or greater than 100% displacement, and recorded ipsilateral rib fractures based on which rib was fractured and the total number of fractured ribs.
Results showed 78% and 54% of patients with and without ipsilateral rib fractures, respectively, had clavicle fractures that were more than 100% displaced. Researchers noted progression from less than 100% to more than 100% displacement for clavicle fractures in 72% of patients with ipsilateral rib fractures vs. 54% of patients without ipsilateral rib fractures. When ribs one through four were fractured, progression of the clavicle fracture to more than 100% had an odds ratio of 4.08 compared with odds ratios of 0.874 and 1.430 for fractures of ribs five through eight or nine through twelve, respectively. – by Casey Tingle
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts