Descriptive Single-center Retrospective Study of a Series of Cases of Clavicle Pseudarthrosis: Epidemiology, Surgical Management, and Functional Outcomes

Descriptive Single-center Retrospective Study of a Series of Cases of Clavicle Pseudarthrosis: Epidemiology, Surgical Management, and Functional Outcomes

1. Study identification Study title: PSEUDO-CLAV - Single-center retrospective descriptive study of clavicle nonunion (pseudarthrosis): epidemiology, surgical management, and functional outcomes PSEUDO-clav_Notice non oppositi… Study type: Observational study (retrospective, single-center) using existing medical records and imaging Study sponsor / data controller: CHU de Brest Scientific lead (principal investigator): Dr Agathe YVINOU (Orthopaedic & Trauma Surgery, CHU de Brest) Data Protection Officer (DPO) contact: protection.donnees@chu-brest.fr

2. Why is this study being done?

   A clavicle nonunion (pseudarthrosis) is when a broken collarbone does not heal as expected and may cause pain, reduced shoulder function, and lower quality of life. Surgery is often used, but because this condition is uncommon, the investigators want to better understand:

   who is affected, which surgical strategies are used, how often the bone heals after surgery, what functional recovery and complications look like in real-life practice.

3. Goal of the study (use/keep this "fill-in" format) The goal of this observational study is to describe clavicle nonunion cases treated surgically at CHU de Brest and to estimate how often the clavicle heals after surgery, using information already collected during routine care.

   The main questions it aims to answer are:

   How often does the clavicle heal ("consolidate") after surgery? Main measure: union rate at ~6 months after surgery (assessment window approximately 4-8 months).

   PSEUDO-clav_Protocole_scientifi… How do patients recover in terms of function and symptoms, and what complications occur? Examples: shoulder function scores (Constant and/or DASH), pain, return to work/sport, complications and re-operations.

   PSEUDO-clav_Protocole_scientifi…

   If there is a comparison group (optional wording):

   Researchers may compare different surgical strategies (for example, plate fixation alone vs. plate fixation plus bone graft, and other techniques when used) to explore whether results differ for healing, recovery, or complications.

   PSEUDO-clav_Protocole_scientifi…

4. Who may be included? (participant population)

   This study may include adults who:

   were treated at CHU de Brest, and had surgery for clavicle nonunion between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2024, and were 18 years or older at the time of the nonunion surgery, and have enough information in the medical record/imaging to evaluate outcomes. PSEUDO-clav_Protocole_scientifi… Estimated number of participants: up to about 30 cases in this center (because the condition is rare).

   PSEUDO-clav_Protocole_scientifi…

5. What will participants have to do?

   Nothing extra. This study:

   uses existing information already in the medical record and imaging systems, involves no additional visits, no extra tests, and no change to treatment, and does not require direct contact with patients.

6. What information will be used?

   Information may include (examples):

   medical history related to the injury and health conditions, details of the surgery (type of fixation, whether a bone graft was used), lab results (including microbiology if relevant), radiology/imaging reports and images, follow-up notes about pain, function, healing, complications, and re-operations.

7. Risks and benefits Risks to for the patients : Since no new procedures are done, the main risk is related to privacy/confidentiality of data. The study team puts protections in place to reduce this risk (see below).

   Benefits: the patients should not expect a direct personal benefit, because care is not changed. Results may help improve understanding of clavicle nonunion surgery, follow-up practices, and future care decisions.

8. How will privacy be protected? Data used for analysis will be pseudonymized (coded). Name and first name are not included in the research dataset.

   Only authorized members of the research team can access the data, using secure access (e.g., password-protected files and restricted hospital systems).

   Study results will be presented as grouped data, so individuals cannot be identified in publications or conference presentations.

   Data retention: research data are kept and archived for a limited duration (e.g., up to 5 years after the end of the study, per the study documentation).

9. Voluntary nature and patient's rights

Because this is a retrospective study using existing records, participation is based on non-opposition (opt-out). The patient can:

object to the use of data for this study, and request access, correction, or limitation of processing as permitted by data protection rules.

How to object (opt out) of PSEUDO-CLAV:

Email the DPO: protection.donnees@chu-brest.fr, or use the CHU Brest transparency portal (as listed in the notice), or contact the study scientific lead, or write to CHU Brest (address listed in the notice). Choosing not to participate will not affect patient's medical care now or in the future

Clavicle nonunion (pseudarthrosis) is an uncommon but clinically important complication of clavicle fracture that may lead to persistent pain, limitation of shoulder function, prolonged work disability, and impaired quality of life. Surgical repair is frequently proposed, most commonly using plate fixation with or without bone grafting. However, because the condition is relatively rare, available evidence is largely based on retrospective series and practice varies regarding key technical decisions (e.g., when to add bone graft, how to manage bone defects or loss of length, and how to approach septic versus aseptic nonunion). The PSEUDO-CLAV study has been designed to describe "real-world" management in a single tertiary center and to estimate healing and recovery outcomes after surgical treatment, using routinely collected data.

Overall design and setting PSEUDO-CLAV is a single-center, retrospective, observational cohort/case-series study conducted in the Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery Department at CHU de Brest. The study reuses data generated during routine care and does not introduce additional visits, tests, or changes in management.

The study period covers patients surgically treated for clavicle nonunion between 01 January 2000 and 31 December 2024, chosen to ensure adequate follow-up for outcome assessment at the time of analysis. Approximately 30 cases are expected based on local incidence and feasibility estimates.

The study scope includes aseptic and septic clavicle nonunions treated surgically, reflecting the full spectrum of cases managed at the center.

Data sources and study procedures (no additional patient burden)

All data originate from the care pathway and are extracted from routine clinical systems, including:

medical records (history, comorbidities, perioperative and follow-up documentation), operative reports and perioperative documentation (surgical strategy and intraoperative details), imaging and radiology systems (e.g., radiographs and CT where available), and laboratory/microbiology results when relevant (including samples collected as part of standard care).

No participant is asked to perform additional tasks. There is no direct intervention and typically no direct contact for study purposes, because the project is based on reuse of existing information.

Key clinical concepts assessed

The dataset is structured to capture the patient journey from the initial fracture through nonunion diagnosis and surgical repair, with an emphasis on variables that may plausibly influence healing and recovery. Examples of routinely captured domains include:

baseline patient characteristics (e.g., age/sex, relevant comorbidities and treatments that may affect bone healing), features of the initial fracture and prior management (including previous procedures on the same clavicle), preoperative nonunion characterization (clinical status, radiographic appearance, and any measurable bone defect), infection work-up and classification when suspected (clinical signs, inflammatory markers, microbiology, and operative sampling), surgical strategy at index nonunion surgery (type of osteosynthesis, approach, debridement, restoration of length, graft type when used, and perioperative antibiotics), and follow-up information from routine visits (pain, functional scores when documented, range of motion, return to work/sport, imaging findings, complications, and any re-operations).

Outcome assessment approach (as captured in routine care) Healing is assessed using clinical and radiographic information as documented in the medical record and imaging archive. Functional outcomes are assessed using validated shoulder outcome measures when available in the chart (e.g., Constant and/or DASH), alongside other clinically relevant elements routinely recorded in follow-up (pain scores, range of motion, return to activity, and patient satisfaction). Complications are collected and categorized as early and late events, and re-interventions are documented with indication and timing.

Because follow-up schedules may vary over the long inclusion period, the protocol defines pragmatic time windows to harmonize assessment-particularly around the standard post-operative checkpoints used in routine practice (e.g., early postoperative review, intermediate visits, and the evaluation around six months).

Data management, quality control, and bias mitigation

To reduce information bias inherent in retrospective studies, the protocol specifies:

predefined operational definitions (e.g., for nonunion and for outcome assessment), a structured case report form / data dictionary approach for consistent abstraction, double review of a random sample (≥10%) of records/imaging to check data quality and resolve discrepancies, and transparent accounting of case selection (e.g., documenting exclusions and incomplete follow-up where applicable).

The study acknowledges key methodological limitations (retrospective design, small sample size, monocentric practice patterns, temporal evolution of implants/techniques across 2000-2024) and addresses them primarily through careful description, stratified/exploratory analyses, and explicit discussion of generalizability.

Statistical analysis plan (high level)

Analyses are primarily descriptive and exploratory, appropriate for the expected sample size. The protocol plans:

descriptive statistics for baseline characteristics and management patterns, estimation of proportions (e.g., healing rate) with 95% confidence intervals, time-to-event methods for time to documented healing (e.g., Kaplan-Meier; exploratory Cox modeling), exploratory group comparisons using tests suited to small samples (e.g., Fisher's exact test for categorical data; Mann-Whitney or t-test for continuous data depending on distribution), and exploratory multivariable modeling for selected outcomes where feasible (e.g., Cox for time to healing; linear regression for functional scores), interpreted cautiously given sample size.

Analyses are conducted locally using R (≥4.3), with verification steps in Python where helpful for cross-checking key results.

Ethics, privacy, and legal basis PSEUDO-CLAV is conducted under a framework for reuse of health data for research, consistent with MR004 as documented in the protocol.

Data protection measures include:

extraction limited to variables necessary for the study (data minimization), pseudonymization of the research dataset (no direct identifiers in the analysis file), restricted access on secure CHU infrastructure (password-protected study files; controlled access to linkage information when needed for information/opt-out handling), no external transfer outside CHU Brest except via approved secure internal mechanisms if required, and dissemination only in aggregated, non-identifying form. As this is a retrospective reuse of data, patients are informed through the center's information pathway and have the right to object (opt out / non-opposition framework); a minimum delay between information and analysis is planned to allow exercise of this right. The DPO contact point is provided for privacy-related questions and objections.

Expected impact and dissemination By providing an exhaustive description of surgically treated clavicle nonunion cases in this center-including operative strategies, complications, re-interventions, and functional recovery-PSEUDO-CLAV aims to support local practice improvement (e.g., clarifying when grafting is used, harmonizing follow-up windows, and informing prevention of reoperation). The protocol anticipates dissemination through scientific communication and publication, with results reported in a manner that does not permit identification of individuals.

Timeline (planned) The protocol outlines a staged process including patient information/non-opposition handling, retrospective data abstraction from records and imaging, database lock, analysis, and reporting, with planned archival and retention consistent with institutional requirements.

Inclusion criteria (must meet all) :

• Setting & period: Managed at CHU de Brest (Orthopaedics-Traumatology) and operated for clavicle nonunion between 01/01/2000 and 31/12/2024.
• Age: ≥ 18 years at the time of the index nonunion surgery.
• Diagnosis: Clavicle pseudarthrosis (nonunion) documented in the record, defined as no clinical and radiographic union ≥6 months after the initial fracture, or radiographic signs of nonunion (e.g., gap, no bridging callus, sclerotic ends) with compatible symptoms.
• Index treatment: Surgical management of the pseudarthrosis (e.g., osteosynthesis with/without bone graft, vascularized graft, other reconstructive technique).
• Minimum data available: Pre- and/or peri-operative imaging confirming nonunion and at least one postoperative clinical and/or radiographic assessment (any timing).
• Scope: Aseptic and/or septic clavicle nonunions are eligible.

Exclusion / non-inclusion criteria (not eligible)

• Legal protection: Adults under legal protection (sauvegarde de justice/curatelle/tutelle).
• Patient objection: Any opposition to the use of their data.
• Age < 18 years.
• Non-surgical management only of the nonunion (conservative treatment without surgery).
• Acute fractures (<6 months) without nonunion criteria, or delayed union without pseudarthrosis criteria.
• Pathologic fracture (tumor/metastasis) or congenital clavicle pseudarthrosis.
• Care outside the study period and/or outside CHU de Brest.

Exclusion after initial selection (screen-fail after chart review)

• Insufficient documentation to evaluate exposure and/or the primary outcome: no usable pre- or post-op imaging and no postoperative follow-up available (immediate loss to follow-up).
• Early death unrelated to the condition/surgery before any postoperative assessment.
• Unclassifiable infection status: suspected infection without microbiologic confirmation and without a clear therapeutic strategy, preventing classification as septic vs aseptic.
• Major ipsilateral concomitant trauma making functional scores uninterpretable (e.g., severe brachial plexus injury, major scapulothoracic stiffness, recent shoulder arthroplasty).
• Unresolved duplicates/inconsistent identifiers (same patient-same clavicle).