The coracoclavicular ligament plays a crucial role in maintaining the vertical stability of the distal clavicle. Fractures involving this structure, particularly those with associated ligament injuries, often exhibit poor stability and typically necessitate surgical intervention. Present fixation techniques primarily encompass rigid fixation via the fracture or acromion, flexible fixation through the coracoid process, and a combination of both methods. Rigid fixation predominantly involves the use of a clavicle hook plate and anatomical locking plate fixation. While the clavicle hook plate provides firm fixation, it restricts shoulder joint movement and is associated with numerous complications[13–15]. Conversely, the anatomical locking plate eliminates the need for trans-articular fixation and preserves the range of motion of the acromioclavicular joint. However, for extremely distal fractures, comminuted fractures, or osteoporotic fractures, its screws may not effectively stabilize the distal bone fragment. Therefore, rigid fixation without coracoclavicular ligament reconstruction carries a long-term risk of increasing the coracoclavicular distance[16].
Endobutton plates are prevalent flexible fixation techniques that indirectly stabilize and repair fractures by reconstructing the coracoclavicular ligament. Unlike traditional methods, they do not necessitate consideration of the size and shape of distal bone fragments, making them suitable for fracture types challenging to effectively secure with locking plates. While Endobutton plates efficiently maintain vertical fracture stability, they can potentially cause horizontal displacement, leading to a 'wipers' effect. This effect heightens the risk of nonunion and internal fixation failure[7, 11]. The Nice knot, a high-tension self-locking sliding knot, has shown promise in fracture reduction, fixation, and ligament repair[17]. However, its application in distal clavicle fracture fixation remains limited.
In this study, we examined 43 patients with distal clavicle fractures characterized by an oblique fracture line or a butterfly-shaped bone fragment at the fracture site. We fixed the fractures with an Endobutton plate and high-strength suture Nice knot, achieving good clinical results. Specifically, No. 5 Ethibond non-absorbable suture was employed for the fixation of the fracture ends via loop ligation. This suture is renowned for its superior strength and resistance to breakage, making it a preferred choice for tendon and ligament repairs as well as fracture fragment fixation. The Nice knot, a high-tension self-locking sliding knot, features a two-wire structure that tightens and slides under pressure, analogous to the function of a strapping belt. This design ensures stability, preventing the knot from slipping. Furthermore, the knot is not only easy to loosen but also user-friendly and can be reapplied multiple times. During surgical procedures, the knot's quick adjustment between loosening and tightening facilitates minor modifications and temporary fixation during fracture reduction[12, 14].
The experimental group in this study had a better average fracture healing time than the control group, and there were no cases of nonunion or delayed union. The average fracture healing time was much shorter than in earlier trials when clavicle fractures were fixed rigidly[17]. This is because the Nice knot gets tighter, reducing the fracture's displacement and separation distance while increasing the fracture site's contact area. Furthermore, it can have to do with the reduction and fixing of the fragments of the mall fracture, which serve as the ligaments' attachment points. Two patients in the control group in this trial had complications. Specifically, one patient developed a mild pin tract infection, characterized by local redness, swelling, and minor exudation, which caused shoulder pain and discomfort. Another patient suffered from Kirschner wire displacement and underwent surgical removal six weeks after the initial operation. In the control group, patients were required to wait for six weeks to have the Kirschner wires externally placed removed, leading to early postoperative limitations in shoulder joint function. However, following the removal of these wires, the patients' shoulder joint function demonstrated significant recovery and was effectively sustained at three months post-surgery and during the final follow-up. Conversely, patients in the experimental group opted for a superior treatment method involving the use of an Endobutton plate combined with high-strength suture Nice knot fixation. The primary advantage of this method is the rapid closure of the surgical wound, obviating the need for Kirschner wires to remain externally and eliminating the necessity for a secondary surgery to remove these wires. Consequently, patients in the experimental group were able to commence functional exercises early in the postoperative period. One month after the procedure, their shoulder joint function was significantly superior to that of the control group. As the follow-up period extended, these patients' shoulder joint function continued to improve and remained in a good state for an extended period. This treatment approach not only expedites patient recovery but also contributes to the long-term maintenance of optimal shoulder joint function.
During the tying of the Nice knot, attention should be paid to avoid early tightening to avoid loosening. It is recommended that the Nice knot be retightened after the final fixation of the Endobutton plate. This step can effectively ensure the stability of the Nice knot. When the ends of the sutures are tightened, if necessary, a needle holder can be used to gently push and compact the knot to make it more secure. When the sutures are under high tension, multiple square knots should be tied with both ends to achieve a firm final lock, which can not only improve surgical results but also effectively reduce the risk of knot loosening. The Nice knot uses a double-line structure, and guiding the folded line loop is an important step[18, 19]. The traditional device needs a guide to first draw out a single line, and then use this single line to fix and draw out the folded line loop, which is cumbersome and time-consuming. To simplify the operation, we designed a ring-structured wire loop guide[20].This innovative design allows for close adhesion to the clavicle and facilitates smooth circular guidance of the wire. The unique structure not only streamlines surgical procedures but also significantly boosts their efficiency. Crucially, this guide can accomplish the guidance of the folded line loop in a single step, thereby optimizing the surgical process considerably. This cutting-edge technology has been successfully implemented in our research to date.
Patients with distal clavicle fractures in this study showed a particular pattern of fracture line displacement: the distal end changes forwards and downwards, while the proximal fracture line tends to migrate backwards and upwards. The anterior and middle bundles of the deltoid muscle and the trapezius muscle's connection to the distal clavicle are the main causes of this pattern. A distal clavicle fracture is commonly caused by a direct, severe collision to the shoulder. The proximal clavicle fracture line is immediately pulled by the trapezius muscle, which extends from the back up to the front down, shifting it upward and backward. The distal fracture end is simultaneously pulled by the deltoid muscle, causing a displacement both forward and downward. It is important to recognize the unique anatomical relationship between the coracoid process and the distal clavicle. In the sagittal plane, the coracoid process precedes the distal clavicle, while in the coronal plane, it lies beneath it. This spatial orientation enables the Endobutton plate's bone tunnel to be oriented from front to back, paralleling the direction of fracture displacement. Such alignment confers a distinct advantage to the Endobutton plate in terms of reduction and fixation. It can align with the natural trajectory of fracture displacement, ensuring stable support and fixation, thereby facilitating expedited fracture healing and recovery. In essence, the Endobutton plate's alignment with the fracture displacement direction offers a distinctive benefit in the reduction and fixation of distal clavicle fractures.
In conclusion, Nice knots can be used as an effective supplement to Endobutton plates for oblique fractures or distal clavicle fractures with butterfly bone fragments. The combination of Nice knots and Endobutton plates can significantly improve the stability of the fracture, promote fracture healing, and allow patients to perform early functional rehabilitation. In addition, it can reduce the complications caused by percutaneous Kirschner wire fixation. However, this study is a retrospective case analysis without a prospective design and has limitations such as a small sample size and short follow-up time. Therefore, further large-scale randomized controlled studies with long-term follow-up are needed to confirm our results.
Table 1
Baseline characteristics () in both groups.
|
Total (n = 43)
|
A(n = 23)
|
B(n = 20)
|
P
|
Age (years)
|
46.28 ± 13.69
|
47.08 ± 12.89
|
45.8 ± 14.52
|
0.76
|
Gender (female/male)
|
31/12
|
16/7
|
15/5
|
0.69
|
BMI(Kg/m2)
|
24.87 ± 3.64
|
25.19 ± 3.80
|
24.49 ± 3.50
|
0.53
|
LOS(length of stay)
|
7.69 ± 1.67
|
7.82 ± 1.72
|
7.55 ± 1.64
|
0.59
|
Bone healing time
|
14.88 ± 2.61
|
12.82 ± 1.12
|
17.25 ± 1.71
|
< 0.05
|
Drinking history
|
16(37%)
|
8(35%)
|
8(40%)
|
0.72
|
Smoking history
|
18(42%)
|
10(44%)
|
8(40%)
|
0.053
|
Hypertension
|
16(37%)
|
8(35%)
|
8(40%)
|
0.13
|
Diabetes mellitus
|
8(19%)
|
3(13%)
|
5(25%)
|
1.01
|
Craig's classification
|
|
|
|
|
ⅡB
|
26(60%)
|
14(60%)
|
12(60%)
|
0.95
|
V
|
17(40%)
|
9(40%)
|
8(40%)
|
A: the experimental group; B: the control group; LOS:length of stay in hospital |
Table 2
Coracoclavicular space ()
Group
|
Pre-op.
|
1month
|
3months
|
LFU
|
p(pre-op.vs.1m)
|
p(1m vs. 3m)
|
p(3m vs. LFU)
|
A
|
62.76 ± 28.74
|
9.37 ± 3.46
|
9.66 ± 2.95
|
9.25 ± 2.53
|
< 0.05
|
0.77
|
0.62
|
B
|
68.36 ± 30.59
|
7.49 ± 3.41
|
8.23 ± 2.60
|
8.10 ± 2.53
|
< 0.05
|
0.46
|
0.88
|
p(A vs. B)
|
0.54
|
0.08
|
0.10
|
0.16
|
|
|
|
A: the experimental group; B: the control group;1month: 1month post-operation; 3 months: 3 months post-operation; LFU:last follow-up |
Table 3
Visual analogue scale (VAS; )
Group
|
Pre-op.
|
1month
|
3months
|
LFU
|
p(pre-op.vs.1m)
|
p(1m vs. 3m)
|
p(3m vs. LFU)
|
A
|
7.47 ± 1.01
|
2.52 ± 0.65
|
2.26 ± 0.94
|
1.83 ± 0.86
|
< 0.05
|
0.29
|
0.12
|
B
|
7.55 ± 1.02
|
4.05 ± 0.80
|
2.25 ± 1.09
|
1.80 ± 0.67
|
< 0.05
|
< 0.05
|
0.13
|
p(A vs. B)
|
0.82
|
< 0.05
|
0.97
|
0.91
|
|
|
|
A: the experimental group; B: the control group;1month: 1month post-operation; 3 months: 3 months post-operation; LFU:last follow-up |
Table 4
Constant-Murley Score ()
Group
|
Pre-op.
|
1month
|
3months
|
LFU
|
p(pre-op.vs.1m)
|
p(1m vs. 3m)
|
p(3m vs. LFU)
|
A
|
43.86 ± 8.87
|
88.95 ± 1.82
|
90.52 ± 3.89
|
91.26 ± 3.21
|
< 0.05
|
0.09
|
0.48
|
B
|
40.95 ± 9.31
|
67.95 ± 5.95
|
90.65 ± 3.64
|
91.15 ± 2.70
|
< 0.05
|
< 0.05
|
0.59
|
p(A vs. B)
|
0.29
|
< 0.05
|
0.91
|
0.90
|
|
|
|
A: the experimental group; B: the control group; 1month:1month post-operation; 3 months: 3 months post-operation; LFU:last follow-up |
Table 5
American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) Score ()
Group
|
Pre-op.
|
1month
|
3months
|
LFU
|
p(pre-op.vs.1m)
|
p(1m vs. 3m)
|
p(3m vs. LFU)
|
A
|
41.45 ± 7.81
|
88.54 ± 1.97
|
89.86 ± 3.42
|
91.22 ± 2.73
|
< 0.05
|
0.13
|
0.14
|
B
|
41.42 ± 9.78
|
67.63 ± 6.05
|
91.05 ± 3.06
|
90.78 ± 2.95
|
< 0.05
|
< 0.05
|
0.91
|
p(A vs. B)
|
0.99
|
< 0.05
|
0.26
|
0.71
|
|
|
|
A: the experimental group; B: the control group; 1month:1month post-operation; 3 months: 3 months post-operation; LFU:last follow-up |