Clavicle refractures after hardware removal: are there risk factors? A retrospective cohort study

• DOI: 10.1007/s00068-025-02794-x
• Publication Date: 2025-02-21T15:21:42Z
• Authors: Franziska Kessler; Yannik Kalbas; Jan Hambrecht; Victoria Wlach; Sascha Halvachizadeh; Roman Pfeifer; Hans-Christoph Pape; Felix Karl-Ludwig...; Christian Hierholzer
• Keywords: 10021 Department of Trauma Surgery; 610 Medicine & health

Abstract Purpose Removal of symptomatic hardware after fracture fixation is common, especially in patients with clavicle fracture. Yet, refracture removal a relatively common complication those patients. The aim this study was to identify risk factors for refractures that could be influenced by the surgical treatment provided. Methods All from level one trauma center 2017 2022 were screened eligibility. Inclusion criteria included plate osteosynthesis clavicle, age ≥ 18 years, and signed informed consent. Groups stratified according occurrence refracture: no-refracture (NR) vs. (R). Nearest-neighbor matching ratio 5:1 performed. Parameter investigated baseline demographics, characteristics details. A subgroup analysis only shaft fractures Results Sixty 50 Group NR 10 R. Baseline comparable between groups. on revealed significantly larger working length (number empty screw holes adjacent site) (1.94 ± 0.85) compared group (1.20 0.92) (p = 0.042). Logistic regression yielded an inverse correlation number site (OR 0.369, 95% CI 0.132–0.873; p 0.035). Time situ, lag application, positioning total amount screws did not affect either Conclusion An increased might protective measure removal.