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.   The information contained on this site is purely a source of information and can at no time replace the expert eye of a qualified professional. We recommend seeking professional advice before embarking on any form of self treatment. Neither the content or nor any other service provided through mybesttennis.com is intended to be relied on for medical diagnosis or treatment. Never delay in seeking professional advice because of something seen on mybesttennis.com.