ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:According to worldwide statistics, internal fixation was commonly selected to treat patients with distal femoral fractures and acromioclavicular joint dislocation. The firmness of Kirschner wire is poor during fixation, so needle withdrawal easily appears, and the fixation would be failure. To reduce complications after fixation, AO/ASIF clavicular hook plate as a novel fixator has been used in treatment of distal clavicle fractures and acromioclavicular joint dislocation. OBJECTIVE:To explore the safety and effectiveness of AO/ASIF clavicular hook plate in the treatment of distal clavicle fractures and acromioclavicular dislocation, and to compare with Kirschner wire tension band.METHODS:100 patients with distal clavicle fractures and acromioclavicular joint dislocation, who were treated in the Department of Orthopedics of Tongcheng People’s Hospital from June 2010 to December 2013, were enrol ed in this study. They were equal y assigned into Kirschner wire tension band group and AO/ASIF clavicular hook plate group according to different fixation methods. The excel ent and good rate of shoulder function recovery, shoulder function score and upper limb functional recovery were observed and compared between the two groups after fixation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The excel ent and good rate of shoulder function recovery was 98%in the AO/ASIF clavicular hook plate group after fixation, which was significantly higher than Kirschner wire tension band group (64%). The incidence of acromioclavicular re-dislocation was 0 after removal of fixator in the AO/ASIF clavicular hook plate group, which was lower than Kirschner wire tension band group (12%), showing significant differences between groups (P<0.05). Japanese Orthopaedic Association score was significantly higher at 5 and 10 weeks after fixation in both groups compared with pre-fixation. Japanese Orthopaedic Association score was significantly higher in the AO/ASIF clavicular hook plate group than in the Kirschner wire tension band group (P<0.05). The ranges of motion of adduction, abduction, flexion and extension were significantly higher in the AO/ASIF clavicular hook plate group than in the Kirschner wire tension band group at 10 weeks after fixation (P<0.05). Above results suggested that AO/ASIF clavicular hook plate is a safe effective fixator for repair of distal clavicle fractures and acromioclavicular joint dislocation, and characterized by smal incision, reliable fixation, and early shoulder activities.