Pediatric Clavicle Injuries
The human clavicle assists in suspending the upper extremity from the axial skeleton. It is one of the first bones to ossify during human development and contains the last physis to close at the end of skeletal growth. Injuries to the clavicle are common in children, and may be underreported secondary to benign neglect and to self-treatment. Medial physeal fractures are the pediatric equivalent of adult sternoclavicular dislocations, and lateral physeal fractures are analogous to acromioclavicular dislocations. Newborns associated with complicated births are at risk for clavicle fracture during the birthing process. Congenital differences of the clavicle can occur also, most notably pseudarthrosis. Treatment of pediatric clavicle fractures is generally nonoperative although management is individualized.
