K-wire fixation and clavicular hook plate fixation in the treatment of unstable fractures of the distal clavicle

<strong><em>Background: </em></strong><em>Unstable fracture of the distal clavicle is usually accepted as an indication for surgical treatment. The present study was conducted to compare K-wire fixation and clavicular hook plate fixation in the treatment of unstable fractures of the distal clavicle.</em> <strong><em>Materials &amp; Methods: </em></strong><em>68 fractures of the distal clavicle patients of either gender were classified into batches of 2 containing 34 patients each. Group I patients were treated with K-wire </em><em>fi</em><em>xation and group II with clavicular hook plate </em><em>fi</em><em>xation. Shoulder function was evaluated with the Constant-Murley scoring system. </em> <strong><em>Results: </em></strong><em>In group I and group II, mode of trauma was RTA in 15 and 18, fall in 12 and 10, sports injury in 7 and 6, side affected was dominant in 25 and 22 and non- dominant in 9 and12. Associated injuries were present in 14 and 16 and absent in 20 and 18. The mean L’ Insalata score in group I patients was 90 and in group II was 91, constant score was 85 in group I and 89 in group II. Complications found were infection in 4 in group I and 2 in group II, loss of reduction 2 in group I and 1 in group II and non- union1 in group I. The difference was significant (P&lt; 0.05).</em> <strong><em>Conclusion: </em></strong><em>Management of distal clavicular fractures with clavicular hook plate found to be better as compared to K-wire fixation.</em>