Plating Clavicle Fractures

Inclusion Criteria: * Active duty, Reservists, National Guard service members * completely displaced shaft fracture of the clavicle (no cortical contact between the main proximal and distal fragments) * a fracture involving the middle third of the clavicle (a fracture amenable to plate fixation with a minimum of three screws in each proximal and distal fragment) * chronic nonunion and malunion fractures * no medical contraindications to general anesthesia * provided informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: * an age of less than eighteen years or greater than sixty five years * a fracture in the proximal or distal third of the clavicle not amenable to plating * a pathological fracture * an associated head injury (a Glasgow Coma Scale score of \<15 at 21 days after injury) * an inability to comply with followup * a medical contraindication to surgery and/or anesthesia (such as heart disease, renal failure, or active chemotherapy) * a lack of consent.