Sterno-clavicular dislocation

What is a sterno-clavicular injury?

The clavicle (or collar bone) connects to the sternum (or breast bone) in the middle of the chest at the top. If the shoulder is subjected to a hard impact this joint can become damaged. It must be said however that this is a very rare injury but if it does occur and is quite bad you should seek medical help because the bones are dangerously close to important blood vessels.

Symptoms include:

• Pain when you push in at the point where your collar bone meets your breast bone.
• Pain radiating into the shoulder.

What can the athlete do?

• Rest
• If the injury is not severe then there is little else they can do. The athlete should be able to return to sport within a few weeks but pain may still be present for a few months.

What can a sports injury therapist or doctor do?

• Determine how bad the injury is and advise on when it is OK to return to sport.
• Do a CT scan of the joint and if it is bad you could be confined to hospital due to the risk of damaging blood vessels (it does not show up on an X-ray)
• An operation called a clavicle resection is a possibility. However it is reported that few Surgeons will attempt it and it is only 50% successful.