Scandinavian Trial Comparing Non-Surgical and Surgical Treatments for Displaced Lateral Clavicle Fractures in Adults Aged 18 to 65

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying adults aged 18 to 65 with displaced extraarticular lateral clavicle fractures to compare non-surgical treatment with surgical treatment. The goal is to see if non-surgical care is not worse than surgery in improving arm, shoulder, and hand function after one year. This is a multinational, multicenter randomized trial focusing on patient-reported outcomes to guide treatment choices. Participants will be randomly assigned to either non-surgical treatment using a simple sling combined with physiotherapy or surgical treatment involving plates and screws to fix the fracture. Those in the non-surgical group may switch to surgery after six weeks if symptoms persist or worsen. Both treatments follow standardized protocols and are carefully monitored. Throughout the study, participants will complete questionnaires measuring arm and shoulder function, pain levels, and quality of life at multiple time points up to five years after treatment. The main measurement is the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand DASH score at one year. Researchers will also assess other functional scores and pain scales to understand recovery. The total follow-up includes assessments before injury, during recovery, and long-term outcomes.

The Scandinavian Displaced Lateral Clavicle Trial