OPERATIVE TREATMENT FOR DELAYED UNION AND NONUNION OF MIDSHAFT CLAVICULAR FRACTURES - AO RECONSTRUCTION PLATE FIXATION AND EARLY MOBILIZATION

Fourteen patients were treated operatively for delayed union and nonun ion of midshaft clavicular fractures from 1986 to 1994. Radiographical ly, nine nonunions were atrophic and five hypertrophic, The operative technique included opening the medullary canal, bone grafting, and fix ation with an AO reconstruction plate, Postoperative mobilization star ted within one week, The mean follow-up was 60 months (range, 16 to 10 1 months), Consolidation was observed radiologically after 10 to 30 we eks, All patients were asymptomatic after 10 weeks and had a normal ra nge of shoulder motion, One patient sustained a fractured clavicle fol lowing adequate trauma. Operative treatment for delayed union and nonu nion of clavicular fractures with AO reconstruction plate fixation, bo ne grafting, and early postoperative mobilization yields excellent res ults.