Does Having A Plate On The Clavicle From A Prior Fracture Repair Prevent Having Shoulder Reduction Surgery?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I was wanting to get more information on shoulder reduction surgery. I want reduction on both shoulders however I have a previous injury on my left shoulder and still have a plate with screws there. Is this procedure still possible for me? Are there any complications my earlier injury will cause?

A: Thank you for your thoughtful question. It would depend where on the clavicle the plate lies, whether it would be in the zone of the osteotomy or not. Do you have an x-ray of that shoulder which shows the plate position? If the plate is in the zone of the osteotomy it can be removed and the clavicle reduction osteotomy done at the same time.

Dr Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana