title: Posterior sternoclavicular dislocations--a diagnosis easily missed.
abstract: Posterior dislocation of the sternoclavicular joint is a relatively rare injury and can be difficult to diagnose acutely. We report 3 cases of posterior dislocation of the sternoclavicular joint who presented to the Accident & Emergency Department within a 3 month period. All 3 patients had sustained a significant injury to the shoulder region and complained of pain around the medial clavicle. Two patients had also complained of dysphagia following the injury. Plain X-rays of the shoulder and chest were reported as normal by junior and senior medical staff. The diagnosis was delayed until CT scans were performed, and once this was established, open reduction and stabilisation was performed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Morriston Hospital, Swansea, UK.
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Hoddinott
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000328:Adult; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005538:Football; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D013247:Sternoclavicular Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed