Non-traumatic pathology of the clavicle in children

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The clavicle in children is a site of multiple types of injuries, post traumatic pathology being predominant, and generally presents no diagnosis problems; in contrast non-traumatic lesions of the clavicle are rare and may pose a diagnostic and therapeutic problems for the orthopaedic surgeon. AIM: The objective is to show that the clavicle in children can be a site of infectious, congenital and tumor lesions involving the functional and vital prognosis of the child. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study including 9 patients over an 9 year period from January 2013 to January 2022 was conducted. 4 boys and 5 girls were admitted in our institute with a mean age of 11.2 years (range 616 years). The right clavicle was affected in 8 patients, with no bilateral lesions. RESULTS: There was a predominance of tumor lesions (4 benign and one malignant). Two patients had a clavicular osteomyelitis. The diagnosis of congenital pseudarthrosis of the clavicle was noted in the other two patients. CONCLUSIONS: The aetiologies are variable, biopsy remains the key to establish the diagnosis in the majority of cases. Treatment varies according to the type of disease and may include symptomatic, expectant management, drugs therapy or surgical treatment.