Influence of x-ray direction on measuring shortening of the fractured clavicle.

Background: Midshaft clavicle fractures are often associated with a certain degree of shortening. There is great variety in the imaging techniques and methods to quantify this shortening. This study aims to quantify the difference in measurements of shortening and length of fracture elements between 5 views of the fractured clavicle.

Quantifying shortening of the fractured clavicle assuming clavicular symmetry is unreliable.

Background: One of the more commonly used methods of determining the amount of shortening of the fractured clavicle is by comparing the length of the fractured side to the length of contralateral unfractured clavicle. A pre-existing natural asymmetry can make quantification of shortening using this method unreliable. The goal of this study is to assess the side-to-side variation in clavicle length in 100 uninjured, skeletally mature adults.