A Simplified Surgical Approach for Distal Clavicle Non-union and Concurrent Skin Ulceration in an Older Adult: A Case Report

We present a case of asymptomatic non-union of distal clavicle fracture in an older adult who experienced late-onset skin dehiscence and a secondarily open fracture. We adopted a simplified surgical approach involving resection of the protruding medial clavicular fragment instead of fixation of the non-union. This approach led to the rapid healing of soft tissues while maintaining an ulcer-free status and adequate shoulder function at the one-year follow-up. Skin necrosis, a frequent complication of acute distal clavicle fractures, may also occur in non-union. In a low-demand elderly patient, a conservative surgical approach involving local non-union spur resection yielded favorable outcomes.