Abstract
We compared patients who had undergone surgery with a clavicle hook plate for comminuted clavicle distal end fracture to those with an additional Bosworth screw. 24 patients were examined. Bosworth's method was performed on 14 shoulders and plating was performed on eleven shoulders. The final outcome was assessed with the elevation of the shoulder, JOA scores and the rate of bone union. The mean elevation of the shoulder was 167.9 degrees in the Bosworth's group and 155.0 degrees in the plating group, the Bosworth's group were significantly higher than the Plating group. The mean JOA pain score was 28.9 points in the Bosworth's group and 28.6 points in the plating group, showing no significant difference between the 2 groups. The complications were 2 cases of Bosworth screw loosening, 1 case of screw broken and 1 case of non-union in the Bosworth's group, and 2 cases of clavicle shaft fracture at the immediate proximal site of plate in the plating group. The advantages of Bosworth's method were relative less invasive surgery, low operation expense and early recovery of function after removal of Bosworth screw, and those of the plating methods were rigid fixation and comparatively good acquisition of bone union.
