Can I Have A Second Clavicle Reduction Surgery?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I was wondering if you could check if, based on my scans after my clavicle reduction surgery, Dr. Eppley thinks it’s possible to reduce them further now that I’m all healed and stable?

A: That is a good question and I will preface my answer by saying I have never yet done a secondary clavicle reduction surgery. This does not mean it cannot be done, I am just saying I have not yet done it.

I don’t think the question is whether a secondary clavicle reduction can be done but how much more could actually be safely achieved in terms of the clavicle bone removal. In looking at your postoperative x-ray you have a significant size match difference between the inner and outer clavicle bone egments that have been brought back together. While every clavicle reduction patient has a mismatch between the sizes of the two bone ends yours is particularly impressive. While we assume that has gone on to successfully healing, and this is where a long-term postoperative x-ray would be helpful, the very relevant question is if that size mismatch is challenged again would it go on to successful healing like it did the first time. That is the gamble that we take and I am fairly certain the risks of a nonunion the second time would definitely be higher than the first time.