Kinesiotaping therapy for midshaft clavicular fractures: a randomised trial study

Abstract

Midshaft clavicle fractures with shortening by less than 2 cm or minimal displacement without neurovascular injury can be treated conservatively. We hypothesized that kinesiotaping reduces the disadvantages of conservative treatment, such as early-phase pain, high nonunion rates, and a prolonged time to return to work, and yields better clinical and functional outcomes.

Forty patients were randomly divided into the arm slings only (group S) or arm sling with kinesiotaping therapy group (group K). The outcome measures included the visual analog scale (VAS) score, Constant score, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, union time, magnitude of shortening, and time to return to work.

The mean follow-up period of the study was 8.5 (6- 10) months. The ASES and Constant scores were significantly better in group K than in group S in the 3rd month. The mean union time was 8.60 (8-12) weeks in group S and 8.25 (6-12) weeks in group K. The mean time to return to work was 7.23 (4-12) weeks in group S and 5.37 (2-10) weeks in group K, and the difference was statistically significant (p <0.05). There was no significant difference in terms of shortening between the two groups.

Compared with an arm sling only, an arm sling with kinesiotaping can yield better clinical functional results, higher union rates, and a shorter the time to return to work due to the early control of pain and edema.