Measurement of Clavicle Fracture Shortening Using Computed Tomography and Chest Radiography

BACKGROUND: Nonoperative management of midshaft clavicle fractures has resulted in widely disparate outcomes and there is growing evidence that clavicle shortening poses the risk of unsatisfactory functional outcomes due to shoulder weakness and nonunion. Unfortunately, the literature does not clearly demonstrate the superiority of one particular method for measuring clavicle shortening. The purpose of this study was to compare the accuracy of clavicle shortening measurements based on plain radiographs with those based on computed tomography (CT) reconstructed images of the clavicle. METHODS: A total of 51 patients with midshaft clavicle fractures who underwent both a chest CT scan and standardized anteroposterior chest radiography on the day of admission were included in this study. Both an orthopedic surgeon and a musculoskeletal radiologist measured clavicle shortening for all included patients. We then determined the accuracy and intraclass correlation coefficients for the imaging modalities. Bland-Altman plots were created to analyze agreement between the modalities and a paired t-test was used to determine any significant difference between measurements. RESULTS: For injured clavicles, radiographic measurements significantly overestimated the clavicular length by a mean of 8.2 mm (standard deviation [SD], ± 10.2; confidence interval [CI], 95%) compared to CT-based measurements (p < 0.001). The intraclass correlation was 0.96 for both plain radiograph- and CT-based measurements (p = 0.17). CONCLUSIONS: We found that plain radiograph-based measurements of midshaft clavicle shortening are precise, but inaccurate. When clavicle shortening is considered in the decision to pursue operative management, we do not recommend the use of plain radiograph-based measurements.

Acute Compartment Syndrome after Non-Contact Peroneus Longus Muscle Rupture

This case demonstrates a rare variation in the pattern of injury and the presentation of acute lateral compartment syndrome of the leg. Although uncommon, lateral compartment syndrome of the leg after an ankle inversion leading to peroneus longus muscle rupture has been previously documented. This case was unusual because there was no overt ankle injury and the patient was able to continue physical activity, in spite of a significant rupture of the peroneus longus muscle that was determined later. This case highlights the necessary vigilance clinicians must maintain when assessing non-contact injuries in patients with possible compartment syndrome.