Incidence of Clavicular Fractures and Its Management in Northern Ghana

Background: Fractures of the clavicle are common especially among young adults who are the work force in many developing countries, including Ghana. The incidence of clavicular fracture varies and the methods of treatment which is determine by the classification, age, fracture characteristics and the patients preference also varies although clavicular fractures are traditionally treated non-operatively. In the northern part of Ghana fractures are very common yet there has not been any study on the incidence of clavicular fractures and the preferred mode of treatment.
Aim: The aim of the present study is to retrospectively investigate the incidence of clavicular fracture and the preferred mode of management among fracture patients over a five year period.
Study Design: Retrospective
Place and Duration of Study: Tania specialist Orthopaedic Hospital, Tamale, Ghana. Methodology: Data regarding patient's age and sex, laterality involved, cause of injury and the mode of management of the fracture from January, 2007 to December, 2012 were analysed.
Results: The incidence of clavicular fracture over the study period was 12.8% of all fractured cases. Majority of the subjects (71.4%) with clavicular fractures were aged 21 to 40 years. Old cases constituted 58.9% whiles only 41.1% of the cases were fresh fractures. About 70% of the old cases were people who had received management from traditional bonesetters. The fracture occurred on the clavicle of the right arm in 60.7% of the patients. Middle third fractures accounted for 78.6% with only 21.4% occurring on the distal third of the clavicle. The major cause of clavicular fractures in this study was road traffic accident constituting 83.0% followed by a fall from heights 11.6%.
Conclusion: The incidence of clavicular fracture among the study subject was relatively high. Road traffic accidents were the most common cause of the injury and the preferred mode of management is the operative management using open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF).