Thesis (MMed)--Stellenbosch University, 2014 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Background
With recent literature indicating certain clavicle shaft fracture types are best treated surgically; there is
renewed interest in the anatomy of the clavicle. lntramedullary fixation of clavicle shaft fractures
requires an adequate medullary canal to accommodate the fixation device used. This computer
tomography anatomical study of the clavicle and its medullary canal describes its general anatomy and
determines the suitability of its medullary canal to intramedullary fixation.
Description of methods
Four hundred and eighteen clavicles in 209 patients were examined using computer tomography
imaging. The length and curvatures as well as the height and width of the clavicle and its canal at
various pre-determined points were measured. ln addition the start and end of the medullary canal
from the sternal and acromial ends of the clavicle were determined. The data was grouped according to
age, gender and lateralization.
Summary of results
The average length of the clavicle was 151.15 mm with the average stemal and acromial curvature
being 146 and 133 respectively. The medullary canal starts on average 6.59 mm from the sternal end
and ends 19.56 mm from the acromial end with the average height and width of the canal at the middle
third being 5.61 mm and 6.63 mm respectively.
Conclusion
The medullary canal of the clavicle is large enough to accommodate commonly used intramedullary
devices in the nraprity of cases. The medullary canal extends far enough medially and laterally for an
intramedullary device to adequatet'y bridge most middte third clavicle fractures. An alternative surgical
option should be avalable in theatre when treating females as the medullary canal is too small to pass
an intranedullary device past the fracture site on rare occasions.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/97308 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | King, Paul Reginald, Ikram, Ajmal, Lamberts, Robert Patrick |
| Contributors | Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Health Sciences. Dept. of Surgical Sciences: Orthopaedic Surgery. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch Univeristy |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 27 pages : illustrations |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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