Distal clavicle fracture treated with a titanium elastic nail (TEN)

It is generally known to use internal fixation using a hook plate or Kirschner wire as an operative treatment for distal clavicle fracture. TEN is a surgical technique that is mainly used in clavicle mid-shaft fracture, and there is no reported case for distal clavicle. We report a case of distal clavicle fracture treated with TEN. A 19-year-old man came to the emergency department with right shoulder pain after bicycle accident. The radiographs showed a distal clavicle fracture without apparent disruption of the acromioclavicular joint (AC-joint) and classification with a Neer type IIA fracture pattern. One day after trauma the patient was treated with closed reduction and internal fixation using a titanium elastic nail (TEN). At 6 months postoperatively, there was no complication and radiograph showed good distal clavicle union. Therefore we performed removal of a TEN.