Surgical Stabilization of Clavicle Fractures Reduces Organ Failure Rates in Multiply-injured Patients with Thoracic Trauma: An Analysis Based on the TraumaRegister DGU®.

Abstract Introduction: Thoracic trauma has decisive influence on the outcome of multiply-injured patients and is often associated with clavicle fractures. The affected patients are prone to lung dysfunction and multiple organ failure. The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of surgical stabilization of clavicle fractures in patients with thoracic trauma on specific outcome parameters. Methods: A multi-center, retrospective analysis of patient records documented in the TraumaRegister DGU® between 2009 and 2015 was performed. The inclusion criteria were multiply-injured patients with thoracic trauma and associated clavicle fracture, maximum AIS severity ≥ 3 and admission to the intensive care unit. The influence of operative vs. non-operative clavicular fracture treatment and timing of surgery on lung failure, multiple organ failure, sepsis, length of ICU stay, intubation time and length of hospital stay was assessed by regression analysis. Results: A total of 3,209 patients were included in the analysis. In 1,362 patients (42%) the clavicle fracture was treated operatively after 7.1 ± 5.3 days. Surgically treated patients had a significant reduction in lung failure (p = 0.013, OR = 0.74), multiple organ failure (p = 0.001, OR = 0.64), intubation time (p = 0.004; -1.81 days) and length of hospital stay (p = 0.014; -1.51 days) compared to non-operative treatment. Moreover, surgical fixation of the clavicle within five days following hospital admission significantly reduced the rates of lung failure (p = 0.01, OR = 0.62), multiple organ failure (p = 0.01, OR = 0.59) and length of hospital stay (p = 0.01; -2.1 days). Conclusions: Based on our results, multiply-injured patients with thoracic trauma and concomitant clavicle fracture seem to benefit significantly from surgical stabilization of a clavicle fracture, especially when surgery is performed within the first five days after hospital admission.