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. 2015 Nov 10;3(4):E396–E405. doi: 10.9778/cmajo.20140130

Table 2: All complications reported in trials comparing operative and nonoperative interventions.

Study Operative groupn = 340 Nonoperative groupn = 345
Complication* No.of patients Complication* No.of patients
COTS10 Operative procedure 9 Operative procedure 18
Symptomatic nonunion 2 Neurologic symptoms 7
Neurologic symptoms 8 Complex regional pain syndrome 1
Abnormality of AC or SC joint 2 Abnormality of AC or SC joint 3
Other† 2 Other† 2
Figueiredo et al.31 Symptomatic nonunion 2 Symptompatic nonunion 1
Implant failure 1 Adhesive capsulitis 2
Judd et al.32 Operative procedure 6 Operative procedure 1
Refracture 1 Refracture 1
Wound infection 3
Neurologic symptoms 1
Koch et al.33 NR NR
Mirzatolooei et al.34 Operative procedure 2 Symptomatic malunion 19
Symptomatic malunion 4 Neurologic symptoms 2
Early mechanical failure 1
Robinson et al.5 Operative procedure 16 Operative procedure 17
Wound infection 2 Rotator cuff impingement 1
Wound dehiscence 1
Rotator cuff impingement 2
Smekal et al.35 Operative procedure 9 Operative procedure 5
Neurologic symptoms 3
Virtanen et al.36 Refracture 1 Operative procedure 1
Early mechanical failure 1 Symptomatic malunion 2
Hardware irritation 1 Refracture 2
Total 77 88

Note: AC = acromioclavicular, NR = not reported, SC = sternoclavicular.

*Operative procedure = complication that was severe and consequently required secondary operation.

†Not described.