Abstract

PIERRO, Inés; SIMONE, Juan Pablo; FORNS, Guido  and  VASALLO, María Belén. Evaluación subjetiva de la hipoestesia subclavicular luego de una reducción abierta y fijación interna de fracturas de clavícula. Rev. Asoc. Argent. Ortop. Traumatol. [online]. 2023, vol.88, n.4, pp.419-426. ISSN 1852-7434.  http://dx.doi.org/https://doi.org/10.15417/issn.1852-7434.2023.88.4.1721.

Introduction: Clavicle fractures account for 4% of adult fractures, with mid-shaft fractures accounting for 80%. Although surgical treatment reduces the risk of pseudarthrosis, malunion, and residual pain, it is not without complications such as regional hypo-esthesia (12-29%). Objective: To determine the prevalence of subclavicular hypoesthesia following open reduction and internal fixation for clavicle fracture, as well as if and how it impacts the patient’s quality of life. Materials and Methods: A prospective cross-sectional analytical study of patients with displaced clavicle midshaft fractures treated with ORIF between 2018-2021 was performed. The research team used a questionnaire with six items that were completed anonymously. The presence of infraclavicular hypoesthesia, regional pain, and daily life interference was assessed. Results: Twenty-nine patients treated surgically with a longitudinal approach and with a minimum postoperative follow-up of one year were evaluated. Twenty-two patients (76%) had altered sensitivity, whereas seven (24%) denied the existence of the symptom. In 97% of individuals with subclavicular hypoesthesia, quality of life was impaired minimally or not at all. Conclusions: Before undergoing surgery, it is important to inform the patient about the risk of cutaneous numbness as a postoperative consequence due to its high frequency but improbable impact on daily activities.

Keywords : Clavicle fracture; internal fixation; numbness; supraclavicular nerve.

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