From the Musculoskeletal Institute, Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, PA (Dr. Sanchez Morales, Dr. Borade, Dr. Maniar, and Dr. Horwitz), and the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, (Dr. Serrano Riera and Dr. Sanders).
J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2019 Jun 1;27(11):405-409. doi: 10.5435/JAAOS-D-17-00598.
The role of routine clinical and radiographic follow-up after clavicle fractures are healed was evaluated.
A retrospective study performed in two level-1 trauma centers included 246 adults with healed clavicle fractures treated surgically between 2000 and 2013 and at least 24-month follow-up. Based on radiographs, changes in fracture alignment or implant position from union to final follow-up were documented. The average reimbursement for a follow-up clinical visit and a clavicle radiograph was estimated.
Mean time to union and mean time of follow-up were of 4.8 and 31.4 months, respectively. No changes in implant position or fracture alignment occurred after the fracture had healed. The amount reimbursed to our institution for two clinical visits and two clavicle radiographs was approximately $300 to $540.
Once clavicle fractures are healed, further radiographic imaging does not provide any notable information. Limiting routine follow-up is safe and could be cost-effective for the healthcare system.
Level-III retrospective cohort study.
评估锁骨骨折愈合后常规临床和影像学随访的作用。
在两个 1 级创伤中心进行回顾性研究，纳入 246 例 2000 年至 2013 年间接受手术治疗且至少随访 24 个月的成人锁骨骨折患者。根据影像学检查，记录从愈合到最终随访时骨折对线或植入物位置的变化。估计随访临床就诊和锁骨 X 线片的平均报销费用。
平均愈合时间和随访时间分别为 4.8 个月和 31.4 个月。骨折愈合后，植入物位置或骨折对线均无变化。我们机构对两次临床就诊和两次锁骨 X 线片的报销金额约为 300 至 540 美元。
一旦锁骨骨折愈合，进一步的影像学检查不会提供任何显著信息。限制常规随访对医疗系统来说是安全且具有成本效益的。
III 级回顾性队列研究。
