A low energy paediatric medial third clavicle fracture with intrapulmonary displacement – a case report

Medial clavicle fractures are rare in children and adolescents and complications are even less common. We present a rare case of a low energy medial third clavicle fracture in an adolescent, complicated by pulmonary perforation and persistent intrapulmonary displacement of the distal fragment. We treated this injury with chest tube insertion followed by open reduction and plating of the fracture with good outcome. The child was minimally symptomatic on presentation and the severity of the injury was picked up only on computed tomography (CT) imaging. We recommend CT imaging be performed for inferiorly displaced clavicle fractures, especially of the medial end.