Fracture of the clavicle is one of the most common bony injuries, and it is rarely require open reduction. It has been treated by closed method with high rate of union. But, often it takes too long time for healing of comminuted and some displaced fracture with long immobilization period and so resulted in delaying return to work. The authors classify clavicle fracture on thr basis of degree of displacement after reduction and presence of communition.

The authors reviewed 228 cases of clavicle fracture in adult which had been treated at the department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Haesung Hospital during the period from Feb. 1984 to Oct. 1989. The result of analysis were follows ;

1. Fractures of clavicle were more prevalent in male, and middle 1/3 was the most common(86%).

2. Immobillization time required to achieve union using the clavicle cast was 6 weeks in type I, II, 8 weeks in type III, 12 weeks in type IV and 14 weeks in type IVc fractures.

3. In 31 operated cases, the average union time was 6 weeks.

4. Based upon these results, initial operative treatment is recommended for fractures displaced more than 1cm, to reduce morbidity and to get more successful bony union and early return to work.

5. Small dynamic compression plate will be the safe instrument to be used and to get good result of bony union.