Pseudo-Dislocation of the Sternoclavicular Joint

• Published in: Journal of orthopaedic trauma Vol. 13; no. 3; pp. 222 - 225
• Main Authors: Brinker, Mark R, Simon, Robin G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hagerstown, MD Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc 01-03-1999; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
• Subjects: Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Bone Transplantation - methods; Clavicle - diagnostic imaging; Clavicle - injuries; Fracture Fixation, Internal - methods; Fracture Healing - physiology; Fractures, Ununited - diagnostic imaging; Fractures, Ununited - surgery; Humans; Injuries of the limb. Injuries of the spine; Joint Dislocations - diagnostic imaging; Joint Dislocations - surgery; Male; Medical sciences; Radiography; Range of Motion, Articular; Sternoclavicular Joint - diagnostic imaging; Sternoclavicular Joint - physiopathology; Sternoclavicular Joint - surgery; Traumas. Diseases due to physical agents; Human; Pseudoarthrosis; Luxation; Sternoclavicular joint; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Fracture; Trauma; Differential diagnostic; Case study; Symptomatology; Clavicle; Complication; Thoracic girdle; Bone; Elderly
• ISSN: 0890-5339; 1531-2291
• DOI: 10.1097/00005131-199903000-00012

Fractures of the medial third of the clavicle are the rarest of all clavicle fractures. We present two cases of medial clavicle fracture nonunions that were initially thought to be chronic anterior sternoclavicular dislocations and describe the entity of pseudo-dislocation of the sternoclavicular joint. Computed tomography should be performed on all patients with suspected or established injuries of the sternoclavicular region to ensure differentiation between fracture and dislocation.