How Much Can A Clavicle Be Lengthened To Fix Shoulder Asymmetry?

Q: Dr. Eppley, Hi. Does you charge same price for shoulder widening even when you only operates on a single shoulder to fix asymmetry? Also how much of lengthening can be done?

A: Thank you for your inquiry. When only one clavicle is being operated on the cost would obviously be less than bilateral clavicle surgery due to a shorter operative time and less hardware used. How much clavicle lengthening that can be achieved depends primarily on the reason for the shoulder asymmetry. Is it a congenital shoulder asymmetry or a traumatic one induced by a fractured clavicle? The next question is how much clavicle lengthening is needed?  (based on x-ray measurements) The answer to these questions is needed to address how much clavicle lengthening can be done…or more pertinently how effective would such surgery be.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana