This observational study used the Swedish Fracture Register to characterize 2,422 clavicle fractures treated across multiple departments in 2013–2014. It describes who gets these fractures, how they break, and how they are treated at a national scale. The study fills a gap left by prior single-centre series, which were limited by local treatment traditions and outdated demographics.
The operative rate for clavicle fractures in Sweden increased 705% between 2001 and 2012 — yet this study, published at the height of that trend, shows only 17% of fractures were actually treated surgically. That gap between trend and practice captures the core debate: displacement is common, but the evidence base for when to operate remains contested.
For boards and for clinical practice, the Robinson classification is the system to know. It governs both fracture communication and, in this dataset, treatment selection — no medial fractures were operated, hook plates went almost exclusively to 3B1 fractures, and plates dominated midshaft surgery.
The polytrauma finding deserves attention. One in five clavicle fracture patients had a concurrent fracture, with vertebral and cranial injuries topping the list. When you see a clavicle fracture after high-energy trauma, the clavicle may not be the most important injury in the room.
This observational study used the Swedish Fracture Register to characterize 2,422 clavicle fractures treated across multiple departments in 2013–2014. It describes who gets these fractures, how they break, and how they are treated at a national scale. The study fills a gap left by prior single-centre series, which were limited by local treatment traditions and outdated demographics.
The operative rate for clavicle fractures in Sweden increased 705% between 2001 and 2012 — yet this study, published at the height of that trend, shows only 17% of fractures were actually treated surgically. That gap between trend and practice captures the core debate: displacement is common, but the evidence base for when to operate remains contested.
For boards and for clinical practice, the Robinson classification is the system to know. It governs both fracture communication and, in this dataset, treatment selection — no medial fractures were operated, hook plates went almost exclusively to 3B1 fractures, and plates dominated midshaft surgery.
The polytrauma finding deserves attention. One in five clavicle fracture patients had a concurrent fracture, with vertebral and cranial injuries topping the list. When you see a clavicle fracture after high-energy trauma, the clavicle may not be the most important injury in the room.