Car driver involved in a road traffic accident with a head on collision.
The patient, car driver, was involved in a road traffic accident with a head on collision. With an intact primary survey, secondary survey revealed painful right clavicular area but no other injuries.
Chest x-ray revealed a minimally displaced closed fracture of the middle third of the clavicle with no evidence of pneumothorax (pic 1).
8 days later she complained of shortness of breath and chest pain. A chest X-ray revealed a pneumothorax with effusion and displacement of the clavicular fracture (pic 2). A CT of the chest confirmed the pneumothorax with effusion (pic 3). A chest drain was inserted which drained a transudate (pic 4). 3 days after the insertion, the chest-drain-tract developed infection draining pus and loosened. The chest drain had to be removed leaving behind a persistent pyopneumothorax (pic 5).
At a regional specialist cardiothoracic unit where she underwent a thoracotomy, corticotomy and pleural washout with intensive care and antibiotics for MRSA for 3 weeks finally sorted out the pyopneumothorax.
When things were seemingly settling down the site of the fracture clavicle developed an abscess which was incised but complicated as a draining sinus for nearly 8 weeks (pic 6). Conservative treatment and oral antibiotics successfully healed the wound.
10 months later the clavicle fracture eventually went into atrophic non-union (pic 7&8) with marked loss of shoulder movements. After a guarding consent the fracture was treated surgically with plate & screws with bone grafting (pic 9). A 6 month follow up showed she recovered well with gaining near normal range of shoulder movements.
Fracture of the clavicle occurs in lateral, middle and medial thirds of the clavicle. Middle third clavicular fractures account for nearly 80% of adult clavicle fractures. The fractures may displace according to the forces of muscular pull as shown in (pic 2b) with consequential immediate and delayed complications.
Immediate complications include skin puncture, subclavian artery/vein transection, pneumothorax (bronchial rupture). Delayed complications include non-union, malunion, re-fracture, thoracic outlet syndrome.
In this case, the pointed end of the displaced clavicle punctured the pleura, causing pneumothorax, followed by a series of complications of pyopneumothorax, abscess formation and finally non-union.
The learning point from this case is that, although pneumothorax is usually suspected in an acute case of road traffic accident, one needs to be aware that fracture of the clavicle, though initially minimally displaced, can displace further, causing a delayed pneumothorax and followed by a battery of complications.
Fracture of the clavicle complicating into pyopneumothorax and atrophic non-union
1. From multiple chest X-ray and CT images, a fracture line can be seen in the midshaft of the left (or right, depending on the actual condition) clavicle, with obvious displacement of the fracture ends. The proximal fragment may be pulled upward by muscles, while the distal fragment may shift downward.
2. On later images, pneumothorax and signs of infection (such as pleural effusion, purulent exudate, i.e., “pyo-pneumothorax”) are visible in the pleural cavity, along with local soft tissue swelling and inflammatory changes. In some images, an abnormal soft tissue density or air-fluid level within the thoracic cage suggests abscess formation.
3. Further follow-up images reveal poor callus formation at the fracture site, exhibiting signs of “clavicular nonunion,” with sclerosis at the fracture ends and no effective healing.
4. Regarding the surrounding tissues (lungs, pleural cavity, and mediastinum), in the early stage of the injury, compressive changes may be observed in the apex of the lung or lung fields. In the later stages, due to infection, diseased lung tissue may show increased density and decreased translucency.
Based on the patient’s high-speed collision leading to a midshaft clavicle fracture, followed by further displacement of the fracture ends during postoperative or recovery phases—potentially piercing the pleura and causing delayed pneumothorax, pyo-pneumothorax, and abscess formation, and eventually resulting in nonunion—the most likely diagnosis is:
“Midshaft Clavicle Fracture with Multiple Thoracic Complications (Pneumothorax, Pyo-Pneumothorax, Chest Wall or Pulmonary Abscess Formation, Ultimately Leading to Clavicular Nonunion)”
Disclaimer: This report provides a reference-based analysis grounded on the supplied clinical and imaging data. It does not replace an in-person consultation or professional physician’s diagnosis and treatment plan. Follow your specialist’s guidance for specific diagnosis and management.
Fracture of the clavicle complicating into pyopneumothorax and atrophic non-union