The Anatomy of the Clavicle and Its In Vivo Relationship to the Vascular Structures: A 2D and 3D Reconstructive Study Using CT Scans

Abstract

The subclavian vein is the vascular structure at highest risk during clavicle fracture fixation. The major area of danger in our study is the medial clavicle with distance being less than 1 centimeter over the entire medial half of the clavicle on both right and left. In this danger area, the subclavian vein courses from 3 to 5 o'clock positions. The subclavian artery is more distant and relatively safer but is closer at the right medial clavicle than the left.