Incidence, characteristics, and long-term follow-up of sternoclavicular injuries

Abstract

Epidemiologic study, level IV.

Posterior sternoclavicular Salter-Harris fracture-dislocation in a patient with unossified medial clavicle epiphysis

“…Clinical symptoms of mediastinal compression have been described to occur in up to 25-50 % of patients presenting with posterior sternoclavicular dislocations [4,10]. Most posterior sternoclavicular injuries will require open reduction-internal fixation, although some authors advocate attempting close reduction of all posterior sternoclavicular injuries since up to 40-50 % of these injuries can be reduced by close reduction [2,10,11]. However, closed reduction of a posteriorly displaced sternoclavicular joint should only be performed in the operating room with a vascular surgeon available given the proximity of the great vessels and possibility of vascular injury [15].…”

“…The most common mechanism of sternoclavicular joint injury is a direct blow to the shoulder, either from a fall or during sports-related activities. Sternoclavicular injuries can occur at any age but are most common in young adults (average age 29-39 years) with a slight male predilection [2,10,11]. Typically, injuries to the sternoclavicular joint involve a varying degree of injury to the joint capsule ranging from mild capsular stretching to complete disruption.…”

“…Anterior dislocations occur more commonly than posterior dislocations with posterior dislocations being reported to comprise as much as 25-33 % of all sternoclavicular dislocations [2,13]. When they occur, posterior dislocations have been described as causing injury to mediastinal structures such as the great vessels, brachial plexus, and trachea [10,13,14].…”

“…Sternoclavicular joint injuries are relatively rare, comprising approximately 1 % of all dislocations and 1-3 % of all shoulder girdle injuries [1,2]. Physeal fractures of the sternoclavicular joint have historically been considered rare as well, with most available literature composed of case reports and small case series [3].…”

Swellings of the sternoclavicular joint: review of traumatic and non-traumatic pathologies

“… 3 Dislocations of the sternoclavicular joint comprise 1% of all joint dislocations, and 3% of those in the upper limb. 17 Boesmueller et al 18 found that the incidence of SCJ injuries was 0.9% in all shoulder-girdle lesions and 1.1% in all dislocations. Young, active males are more likely to present with this injury after high-energy trauma.…”