[Case-control study on single locking plate and locking plate with suture anchors for the treatment of unstable distal clavicle fractures].

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To compare therapeutic effects of single locking plates and locking plates with suture anchors in treating type Neer IIb distal clavicle fractures. METHODS: From January 2013 to January 2015, 40 distal clavicle fractures patients with Neer IIb were treated by retrospectively analyzed and divided into single locking plates (control group) and locking plates with suture anchors(observation group) according to methods of operation. There were 20 patients in control group treated by single locking plates, including 16 males and 4 females aged from 26 to 64 years old with an average of(40.60±12.64) years old; while there were 20 patients in observation group treated by locking plates with suture anchors, including 15 males and 5 females aged from 20 to 57 years old with an average of(37.30±10.56) years old. Length of incisions, operation time, blood loss, hospital stays, fracture healing observed by X-ray, position of internal fixation, and changes of coracoclavicular distance were compared, Constant-Murley score was used to evaluate shoulder joint function. RESULTS: All patients were followed up from 22 to 42 months with an average of (30.08±6.72) months. There was no statistical significance in length of incisions, operation time, blood loss, hospital stays and fracture healing time (P>0.05). Constant-Murley score in control group was 83.10±5.81, and lower than that of observation group (92.30±6.05)(P<0.05) at final following-up. Coracoclavicular distance in control group (11.22±3.85) mm, was longer than that of observation group (8.71±2.14) mm(P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with locking plates, locking plates with suture anchors for type Neer IIb distal clavicle fractures has better shoulder joint, shorter coracoclavicular distance. It showed coracoclavicular ligament is an effectiveness method for treating Neer IIb distal clavicle fractures.