EC Orthopaedics

Review Article Volume 17 Issue 3 - 2026

Oral Steroid Use for Subclavius Induced Acute Brachial Plexopathy Following Midshaft Clavicle Fracture Surgery: A Case Repor

Akshar P Thakkar1,2,3 , Michael D Scheidt4 , Shaheen Jadidi 5 , Thomas Nayak6 , Michael B Ellman7 , Debdut Biswas1,2 , Aaron A Bare1,2 and Sanjeev Bhatia 1,2 *

1 Hip and Knee Joint Preservation Center, Department of Orthopaedics, Northwestern Medicine, Warrenville, IL, USA
2 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
3 Department of Medical Education, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Erie, PA, USA
4 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL, USA
5 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Endeavor Health, Naperville, IL, USA
6 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
7 Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Panorama Orthopedics and Spine Center, Denver, CO, USA

*Corresponding Author: Sanjeev Bhatia, Hip and Knee Joint Preservation Center, Department of Orthopaedics, Northwestern Medicine, Warrenville and Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
Received: January 18, 2026; Published: February 27, 2026




A 53-year-old male presented with a high-energy acute mid-shaft fracture of the left clavicle that was surgically treated with open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) 11 days after the initial injury. The day following the procedure, the patient presented with symptoms concerning for acute plexopathy, which was treated successfully with a Medrol Dosepak (methylprednisolone). The brachial plexopathy resolved 6.5 weeks after treatment. The development of brachial plexopathy is a rare postoperative complication of clavicle ORIF, and definitive treatment guidelines do not exist. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report to describe the role of oral corticosteroids in the management of this unusual complication. Surgeons should consider the role of oral corticosteroids during the initial observation period of these devastating injuries.

 Keywords: Clavicle; ORIF; Plexopathy; Steroids; Methylprednisolone; Nerve Injury

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Sanjeev Bhatia., et al. “Oral Steroid Use for Subclavius Induced Acute Brachial Plexopathy Following Midshaft Clavicle Fracture Surgery: A Case Report”. EC Orthopaedics 17.3 (2026): 01-07.

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