Clinical Scorecard: Adolescent athlete returned to sport after adjunctive shockwave therapy for clavicle fracture
At a Glance
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Condition | Displaced medial clavicle fracture in an adolescent athlete |
| Key Mechanisms | Focused electrohydraulic extracorporeal shockwave therapy was used as an adjunct to nonoperative fracture management; the case report does not establish its mechanism or efficacy. |
| Target Population | A 14-year-old female soccer player with a displaced right medial clavicle fracture. |
| Care Setting | Orthopedic and sports-injury care, described in a single-patient case report. |
Key Highlights
- Focused electrohydraulic shockwave therapy began on Day 4; 18 sessions were completed by Day 57.
- Radiographs showed early callus on Day 15 and fracture consolidation by Day 59.
- The patient was cleared for unrestricted sports participation about 8 weeks after treatment began.
- At approximately 1 year, she remained asymptomatic without reported functional limitations or reinjury; radiographic healing was not reassessed.
- The single-patient design, lack of a comparison group, and potential influence of natural pediatric healing prevent conclusions about treatment efficacy.
Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
Management
Monitoring & Follow-up
Risks
Patient & Prescribing Data
One 14-year-old female soccer player with a displaced right medial clavicle fracture.
Treatment began on Day 4 and comprised 18 sessions through Day 57. Pain reportedly decreased after the first session, and shoulder movement improved by the fifth; the case does not establish that therapy accelerated healing.
Clinical Best Practices
- In this case, the patient was advised to discontinue heavy-backpack use after apparent fracture-site separation was seen, despite symptom improvement.
- In this case, clearance for unrestricted sport followed radiographic consolidation, mechanical stability, full functional shoulder use, and absence of pain.
- The reported recovery timeline was compared with heterogeneous fracture populations and should not be interpreted as evidence that treatment accelerated healing.
Related Resources & Content
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