Study Summary

110 patients with acute isolated mid-shaft or lateral clavicle fractures were randomized to receive immobilization with a triangular bandage or a two-point sling. After excluding patients who underwent surgery or were lost to follow-up, 68 patients were analyzed at the primary endpoint. The primary outcome of interest was patient satisfaction at 1 week post-trauma measured using the Dutch version of the Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with Assistive Technology (D-QUEST). Secondary outcomes included pain measured using the visual analogue scale (VAS) and functional recovery measured using the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score at 1, 3, and 6 weeks postinjury. Outcomes were assessed over a 6-week follow-up period. Overall, the results of the study revealed that patients treated with a two-point sling reported significantly greater satisfaction compared with those treated with a triangular bandage, while pain and functional recovery outcomes remained similar between groups. These findings suggest that a two-point sling may represent the preferred conservative immobilization strategy for clavicle fractures due to improved patient comfort and satisfaction.