Large segmental defects in midshaft clavicle nonunion treated with autologous tricortical iliac crest bone graft.

Background: To evaluate the use of intercalary iliac crest bone graft in the treatment of clavicle nonunion with a large segmental bone defect (3-6 cm). Methods: This retrospective study evaluated patients with large segmental bone defects (3-6 cm) after clavicle nonunion, treated with open reposition internal fixation and iliac crest bone graft between February 2003 and March 2021. At follow-up the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire was administered. A literature search was performed to provide an overview of commonly used graft types per defect size. Results: We included five patients treated with open reposition internal fixation and iliac crest bone graft for clavicle nonunion with a median defect size of 3.3 cm (range 3-6 cm). Union was achieved in all five, and all pre-operative symptoms resolved. The median DASH score was 23 out of 100 (IQR 8-24). An extensive literature search revealed that there are no studies describing the use of an used iliac crest graft for defects larger than 3 cm. Instead, a vascularized graft was typically used to treat defects sizes between 2.5 and 8 cm. Discussion: An autologous non-vascularized iliac crest bone graft can be safely used and is reproducible to treat a midshaft clavicle non-union with a bone defect between 3 and 6 cm.