Instability and degenerative arthritis of the sternoclavicular joint: a current concepts review

Background: Injuries to the sternoclavicular (SC) joint typically occur with high-energy mechanisms such as those obtained in automobile accidents or contact sports. Many disorders of the SC joint can be treated nonoperatively. However, surgical treatment may be indicated for locked posterior dislocations; symptomatic, chronic instability; or persistent, painful osteoarthritis that fails nonoperative therapy.

Purpose: To provide an updated review on the current diagnosis and management of instability and degenerative arthritis of the SC joint.

Study design: Current concepts review.

Methods: A preliminary PubMed database search using the terms sternoclavicular instability, dislocation, arthritis, resection, and stabilization was performed in August 2012. All anatomic and biomechanical studies, review articles, case reports, case series, and technique papers that were relevant to the topic were included.

Results: The search identified 929 articles, 321 of which, after screening of the titles and abstracts, were considered potentially relevant to this study. Of the 321 articles, 30 were anatomic or imaging studies, 2 were biomechanical studies, 69 were review papers, 189 were case series or reports, and 31 were technique papers. The majority of these studies were classified as evidence level 4, with a few scattered level 3 studies. Because the level of evidence obtained from this search was not adequate for systematic review (or meta-analysis), a current concepts review of the diagnosis and management of SC joint instability and degenerative arthritis is presented.

Conclusion: Injuries to the SC joint are uncommon. Recognition and classification of these injuries are critical to proper management, thus minimizing potential long-term sequelae such as posttraumatic arthritis and recurrent instability. Although nonoperative therapy is the modality of choice in anterior dislocations, posterior dislocations require special attention because of the presence of vulnerable posterior hilar structures. Surgical management of chronic instability and degenerative arthritis of the SC joint includes resection arthroplasty of the medial clavicle with or without reconstruction of the sternoclavicular ligaments with graft material. Although resection is typically performed open, an arthroscopic technique is described that theoretically decreases operating and recovery times while also decreasing the risk of iatrogenic injury. Currently, when reconstruction is needed for stability, a figure-of-8 graft reconstruction is the recommended method based on biomechanical data and small clinical series.