Abstract: Background: Various plates are available for mid shaft displaced clavicle fractures, each with its own set of benefits and drawbacks. Although reconstruction plates are inexpensive and easily bendable, their stability and strength have been called into doubt. In comparison to the reconstruction plate, the anatomical pre-contoured locking plates give great stability and strength.
Methods: To compare the results, a study [prospective] was done with 30 patients with displaced mid shaft clavicle fractures who were treated with a pre-contoured anatomical locking plate (15 patients) and a recon plate (15 patients) at our hospital between Jan and Dec 2020. Patients were followed up for 6months and clinical radiological results between the pre-contoured locking plate and reconstruction plate were compared individually using the quick DASH score and plain x rays.
Results: The group with reconstruction plates had a mean-16 weeks for bone union and for the locking plate [pre contoured] group was 13weeks. The mean quick dash score for the reconstruction group is 30.5 and for the anatomical pre-contoured plate group is 25.8. We had entanglements, for example, hypertrophic scar, plate prominence, agonizing shoulder, implant failure were noted uniquely in the recon plate group, which required implant exit while the anatomical locking plate group they didn’t have those complications. The implant removal was done for 2 subjects in the reconstruction cohort while zero patients in the locking plate category required one. None of the patients in both groups had a non-union.
Conclusion: When compared to reconstructive plating, surgical therapy of fractures in middle third clavicle with pre-contoured locking plates provided stable fixation, faster union, and superior functional success. Anatomical plates have the advantage of requiring less soft tissue stripping and requiring less lag screw fixation for fracture stability because the pre-contoured plate provides a stiff build.
