[Effectiveness of anatomical locking plate internal fixation combined with coracoclavicular ligament reconstruction for Neer type Ⅱ b distal clavicle fractures].

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of anatomical locking plate internal fixation combined with coracoclavicular ligament reconstruction in treatment of the Neer type Ⅱb distal clavicle fractures by comparing with the simple anatomical locking plate internal fixation.

Methods: The clinical data of 40 patients with Neer type Ⅱb distal clavicle fractures who met the criteria between February 2013 and January 2017 were analyzed. Eighteen cases were treated with anatomical locking plate internal fixation and coracoclavicular ligament reconstruction by using a suture anchor (reconstruction group), and 22 cases were treated only with anatomical locking plate internal fixation (non-reconstruction group). There was no significant difference in gender, age, injured side, causes of injury, associated injuries, time from injury to operation between 2 groups ( P >0.05). The operation time, medical expense, postoperative coracoclavicular distance, Constant-Murley scores of injured side, and complications were recorded and compared between 2 groups.

Results: All patients were followed up 12-27 months (mean, 16.3 months). One patient in reconstruction group had superficial wound infection. One patient in non-reconstruction group had pullout of screws from the distal fragment and reduction loss at 1 month postoperatively. The operation time and medical expense in reconstruction group significantly increased when compared with those in non-reconstruction group ( P <0.05). All fractures in 2 groups achieved bony union at last follow-up. The rate of coracoclavicular distance increase of injured side in non-reconstruction group was significantly higher than that in reconstruction group ( t =2.371, P =0.023). The Constant-Murley scores at 1 month, 3 months after operation, and last follow-up were significantly improved when compared with preoperative values in 2 groups ( P <0.05), but no significant difference was observed between 2 groups ( P >0.05).

Conclusion: Both anatomical locking plate internal fixation with and without coracoclavicular ligament reconstruction can achieve good effectiveness for the Neer type Ⅱb distal clavicle fractures. Therefore, the coracoclavicular ligament reconstruction does not need, except for comminuted fractures with the length of lateral fragment less than 1 cm or the patients with poor compliance.