Publication:

Right congenital pseudoarthrosis of clavicle managed with plate fixation alone

Congenital pseudoarthrosis of the clavicle is a rare developmental anomaly caused by failure of fusion between the medial and lateral ossification centers of the clavicle. Although often asymptomatic, surgical intervention may be indicated for cosmetic deformity, pain, or functional impairment. We report a case of a 12-year-old male with right-sided congenital pseudoarthrosis of the clavicle treated surgically by excision of the pseudoarthrosis and rigid plate fixation without bone grafting. Histopathological analysis confirmed fibrocartilaginous tissue consistent with pseudoarthrosis. At one-year follow-up, the patient was asymptomatic with full, pain-free shoulder range of motion and radiographic evidence of complete union without implant-related complications. This case demonstrates that stable internal fixation alone may be sufficient to achieve union in selected cases of congenital pseudoarthrosis of the clavicle, potentially avoiding donor-site morbidity associated with bone grafting.