Osteopetrosis is a rare disease characterised by generalised sclerosis of the bone. Surgical treatment for fractures in osteopetrotic bones is difficult due to their hardness. We report successful surgical treatment of humeral and clavicular fractures in a 30-year-old osteopetrotic patient with severe multiple trauma. Two years after surgery, the patient had a full range of movement at the shoulder and elbow, with good bone union and alignment.
Albers-SchonbergH. Roentgenbilder einer seltenen Knochennerkrankung [in German]. Munch Med Wochenscher1904;51:365.
2.
BollerslevJAndersenPEJr. Radiological, biochemical and hereditary evidence of two types of autosomal dominant osteopetrosis. Bone1988;9:7–13.
3.
ShapiroF. Osteopetrosis. Current clinical considerations. Clin Orthop Relat Res1993;294:34–44.
4.
ArmstrongDGNewfieldJTGillespieR. Orthopedic management of osteopetrosis: Results of a survey and review of the literature. J Pediatr Orthop1999;19:122–32.
5.
BollerslevJAndersenPEJr. Fracture patterns in two types of autosomal-dominant osteopetrosis. Acta Orthop Scand1989;60:110–2.
NeerCS2nd. Fractures of the distal third of the clavicle. Clin Orthop Relat Res1968;58:43–50.
8.
AndersonK. Evaluation and treatment of distal clavicle fractures. Clin Sports Med2003;22:319–26.
9.
EdwardsDJKavanaghTGFlanneryMC. Fractures of the distal clavicle: A case for fixation. Injury1992;23:44–6.
10.
NeviaserRJ. Injuries to the clavicle and acromioclavicular joint. Orthop Clin North Am1987;18:433–8.
11.
MizueFShiraiYItoH. Surgical treatment of comminuted fractures of the distal clavicle using Wolter clavicular plates. J Nippon Med Sch2000;67:32–4.
12.
FlinkkilaTRistiniemiJHyvonenPHamalainenM. Surgical treatment of unstable fractures of the distal clavicle: A comparative study of Kirschner wire and clavicular hook plate fixation. Acta Orthop Scand2002;73:50–3.
13.
GregoryPR. Fracture of the shaft of the humerus. In: BucholzRWHeckmanJD, editors. Rockwood and Green's fractures in adults. 5th ed.Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2001:973–96.
14.
KochPPGrossDFGerberC. The results of functional (Sarmiento) bracing of humeral shaft fractures. J Shoulder Elbow Surg2002;11:143–50.
