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Case Reports
. 2015 Apr-Jun;5(2):12-4.
doi: 10.13107/jocr.2250-0685.287.

Traumatic Floating Clavicle- A case report

Alexandra Sopu  1 , Connor Green  1 , Diarmuid Molony  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Traumatic Floating Clavicle- A case report

Alexandra Sopu et al. J Orthop Case Rep. 2015 Apr-Jun.

Abstract

Introduction: Shoulder injuries after high velocity trauma are common. Clavicle is affected in almost half of these cases. Even so, bipolar dislocation of the clavicle is an unusual injury and seldom reported in the literature. Conservative management is used for almost all the cases and only selected cases will undergo surgical treatment.

Case report: A 52 year old right electrician presented to the emergency department following a fall from a push bicycle. Plain radiographs identified a left first metacarpal (MC) fracture and a bipolar fracture of his right clavicle. Following Fracture Clinic review, significant deformity of the medial clavicle was noted and a CT scan showed anterior dislocation of the medial fragment. Given the degree of deformity and this functional requirement we felt that operative treatment was most appropriate for his unstable medial clavicle fracture dislocation.

Conclusion: Surgical treatment of floating clavicle has an important role in the management of fit and active patients. It is important to identify the mechanism of injury and deforming forces in fractures and only after this to plan to neutralise these where appropriate.

Keywords: bipolar clavicle dislocation; floating clavicle; internal fixation; surgical management.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: Nil

Figures

Figure 1, 2
Figure 1, 2
Pre-operative radiographs
Figure 3,4
Figure 3,4
CT images (3D reconstruction) showing lateral and medial aspects of the clavicle
Figure 5, 6
Figure 5, 6
Post-operative radiographs indicating a lateral fracture with a stable pattern and a medial fracture instrumented with a contoured T plate and screws
Figure 7, 8
Figure 7, 8
Radiographs at 5 months follow-up showing a partially radiologically healed lateral fracture (clinically healed by fibrous union) and medial fracture instrumented with a contoured plate and screws
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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