2001 Volume 25 Issue 3 Pages 515-519
[Purpose] The purpose of this paper is to report on the clinical findings and natural course of spontaneous sternoclavicular joint subluxation. All the patients had a positional anterior subluxation with elevation or horizontal extension and reduction with a descent or horizontal flexion.
[Materials and methods] Eight patients ( 9 joints) were studied. There were 6 males and 2 females,5 right,2 left and 1 bilateral joints. The average age was 19.6 years old (14-44 ). In one patient the reconstruction surgery using a plantaris tendon was performed. Seven patients were treated nonoperatively. Four patients (5 shoulders) with non-operative treatment were followed by telephone calls. The average follow-up period was 8.6 years ( 2 - 19 years ).
[Results] The average age of the onset was 18.4 years old ( 13-44 ). The spontaneous subluxations were caused by minor trauma in 4 joints and by overuse in 3 joints. Another 2 joints had no causes. The chief complaints were snapping with subluxation or reduction in all of the patients. Four patients had dullness or mild pain. General joint laxity was evaluated by Carter's 5 signs in 6 patients. Three patients had one or two signs and another three patients had no signs. In x-rays there were no bone or joint deformities. The operative case had recurrence of subluxation and snapping three months after the operation, and the results were poor. On the other hand, in 3 patients ( 3 joints ) with non-operative treatment the subluxation and snapping diminished over several years. In one patient ( 1 joint ), snapping persisted but the amount of discomfort decreased over time.
[Conclusion] A spontaneous sternoclavicular joint dislocation is apt to occur in teenagers. Minor trauma and overuse induce this disorder. Some patients had dullness or mild pain with snapping. Few patients had an operative indication. We recommend conservative treatment for a spontaneous sternoclavicular joint dislocation
