[Therapeutic effects of titanium elastic nails for the treatment of clavicular fractures in elder children].

Objective: To research the application and clinical effect of titanium elastic nails (TEN) for the treatment of closed clavicular fracture in elder children.

Methods: From October 2010 to December 2012,16 elderly children with clavicular fracture of elder children were treated with internal fixation, including 9 boys and 7 girls with an average age of 14.2 yeats old ranging from 9 to 17 years. The mean time between injury and surgery was 2 to 6 days. Thirteen patients had a transverse fractures; 3 patients had a oblique fractures, excluding the long-oblique patients. Neer function score after 3 months follow-up and the shoulder activity degree after 3 weeks followed were compared respectively between the injured side and healthy side. Fracture reduction and healing were followed up by X-rays to analyze internal fixation with TEN technique.

Results: All patients were healed well after surgery. There were 2 cases with soft tissue irritation. No cases of infection, TEN broken, delayed healing or skin bursting were observed. All patients were followed up for 3 to 10 months,with an average of 7.2 months. There were no significant differences (t=2.12, P>0.05) between the healthy side (98.75±2.70) and injured side(96.69±6.22)of Neer score at 3 months during followed up. The shoulder activity at 3 weeks during followed up was different between both sides (P<0.05). The intramedullary nail was removed after X-rays at 12-18 weeks during followed up showed good bone healing,and the shoulder function was recovered well.

Conclusion: Internal fixation with TEN for the treatment of clavicular fracture has advantages of a limited invasion, beauty, safety and reliability. This technique provides an ideal fixation option for the treatment of clavicular fracture in elder children.