Locking plates for displaced fractures of the lateral end of clavicle: Potential pitfalls
A 48-year-old right-hand dominant male sustained a lateral clavicle fracture in December 2011 after landing heavily on his left shoulder while playing rugby. Initial radiographs demonstrated that it was displaced []. He underwent ORIF with a lateral clavicle locking compression plate system (LCP, Synthes). Fluoroscopic imaging demonstrated a satisfactory reduction []. Postoperatively he was discharged home with a poly-sling and advised to keep the arm immobilized until review in clinic 2 weeks later.\nThe patient returned within 3 days of the surgery complaining of increasing pain and prominence over the lateral clavicle. A radiograph demonstrated that the screws had pulled out of the lateral fragment []. He then underwent revision surgery and the locking plate was replaced with a hook plate []. Postoperatively he made an uneventful recovery. Eight weeks after the revision surgery his OSS was 22.