Appropriate Use Criteria

Assumptions 

• The scope of this AUC does not include pre-pubescent or peri-pubescent patients.  

• This AUC is not pertinent to a delayed union (>6 mos) 

Before these appropriate use criteria are consulted, it is assumed that: 

• Patient was appropriately evaluated with complete history and physical and had appropriate radiographic workup  

• The patient has been optimized and risk stratified, and deemed an appropriate candidate for surgical intervention when necessary 

• The fracture is isolated and the patient has no polytrauma or associated neurovascular injury 

• The fracture is neither open nor impending open 

• The surgery, when indicated, will be performed in a timely fashion to allow ideal treatment of the fracture.  

• The patient is still having clinical symptoms associated with the acute clavicle fracture 

Disclaimer: Volunteer physicians from multiple medical specialties created and categorized these Appropriate Use Criteria. These Appropriate Use Criteria are not intended to be comprehensive or a fixed protocol, as some patients may require more or less treatment or different means of diagnosis. These Appropriate Use Criteria represent patients and situations that clinicians treating or diagnosing musculoskeletal conditions are most likely to encounter. The clinician’s independent medical judgment, given the individual patient’s clinical circumstances, should always determine patient care and treatment.