From January 2005 to July 2007, 141 patients with displaced midshaft clavicular fractures were treated with TEN or plate fixation. At 6 and 24 months postoperatively, we evaluated the patients?general health, operative complications, and functional recovery.
The mean bone union time of TEN patients was 12.4 ¡À 3.4 weeks, whereas that in the plate group was 14.4 ¡À 3.7 weeks. The time of union was significantly shorter in the TEN group than that in the plate group. There was no significant difference between these 2 groups?rates of complications such as nonunion or malunion. Shoulder function scores were significantly better in the TEN group than in the plate group at 6 months postoperatively. There was no significant difference at 24 months postoperatively. Patients were more satisfied with the cosmetic appearance and overall outcome after TEN repair than after plate fixation.
TEN fixation of displaced midshaft clavicular fractures allows for a faster functional recovery, higher patient satisfaction, and a more cosmetically satisfactory appearance than plate fixation. The complication rates of both TENs and reconstruction plates were similar.