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Dislocation Sternoclaivcular joint
Related Subjects: |Shoulder Anterior Dislocations |Shoulder: Posterior Dislocation |Shoulder: Sterno-Clavicular Joint Dislocation |Acromio-clavicular joint |Shoulder Joint Structure and Form
ℹ️ About
- 🔗 Sternoclavicular joint dislocation = rare injury (<1% of dislocations).
- ⚠️ Important because posterior dislocations can compress the trachea, oesophagus, or great vessels → life-threatening.
- 👥 More common in young adults and contact sports injuries (e.g. rugby, wrestling).
📍 Injury Site
- ➡️ Anterior dislocation – more common, usually stable, treated conservatively.
- ⬅️ Posterior dislocation – uncommon but dangerous; may compromise airway/major vessels. 🖥️ Always confirm with CT chest.
⚡ Typical Mechanism
- High-energy trauma (RTAs, sports injury, fall onto shoulder or outstretched hand).
- Posterior dislocation → risk of compression of: – 🫁 Trachea (respiratory distress, stridor) – 🩸 Great vessels (venous congestion, shock) – 🥤 Oesophagus (dysphagia).
💊 Management
- 🩺 Monitor vital signs & airway closely.
- 🩹 Broad-arm sling, analgesia, supportive care.
- ⬅️ Posterior dislocation: orthopaedic emergency → immediate referral for reduction ± cardiothoracic backup.
- ➡️ Anterior dislocation: usually treated non-operatively → fracture clinic follow-up.
- 🏥 If unstable or recurrent → may need surgical stabilisation.
📌 Exam Pearl: – Always think posterior sternoclavicular dislocation if a patient has dyspnoea, dysphagia, or venous congestion after trauma. – CT chest is the gold standard for diagnosis. – Anterior dislocations are mostly benign; posterior = potentially fatal.
📚 References
| The content on this website is provided for educational and informational purposes only to support exam preparation (e.g., MLA, MRCP, USMLE) and learning. This is NOT medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or professional guidance. It does not replace consultation with a qualified healthcare professional, official guidelines (e.g., NICE, GMC, BNF), or supervised clinical practice. Always verify information with current, authoritative sources. Makindo and its contributors accept no liability for any reliance on this content, including errors, omissions, or any resulting harm, loss, or consequences. By using this site, you agree to these terms. |
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