Sternoclavicular Joint Injuries in the Contact Athlete

Injuries to the sternoclavicular (SC) joint are rare but can be extremely limiting and potentially life threatening owing to the proximity of the SC joint to critical neurovascular structures. Athletes participating in contact sports are especially susceptible to these injuries because of repeated exposure to high-impact collisions. Following both anterior and posterior SC instability events, to return athletes to their preinjury activity level, an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment plan is paramount. The purposes of this article are to review the relevant anatomy, biomechanics, patient presentation, and management options for SC joint injuries. Medical decision-making and evidence-based clinical outcomes would be described in detail.