Clinical outcome of the treatment of floating shoulder by osteosynthesis for clavicular fracture alone

Abstract

Floating shoulder is an unstable combination of fractures that involve the scapular neck and the ipsilateral midclavicle and require surgical treatment. The clinical outcome of the surgical treatment of floating shoulder for the clavicular fracture alone is reported. In 5 male patients (mean age, 38.6 years), fixation of the clavicular fracture was achieved with the use of a bone plate in 1 patient and with Kirschner wires in 4 patients. In all patients, union of the fractures of both the clavicle and the scapular neck was achieved, and the mean time for fracture healing was 17 weeks. According to the UCLA score, the mean score was 34.2 points during a mean follow-up period of 57.4 months. In patients with a floating shoulder, it is important to evaluate the severity of fracture displacement and coracoclavicular ligament rupture accurately, and on the basis of this evaluation, an appropriate treatment for both fractures that may lead to a satisfactory clinical outcome can be determined.