Disorders of the sternoclavicular joint

The sternoclavicular joint is, in the main, a stable joint which relatively rarely becomes diseased. However, conditions of the sternoclavicular joint, when untreated, can have major life limiting consequences. They therefore merit serious consideration because they are rare and an individual clinicians' experience will inevitably be limited. This article covers the main conditions of the sternoclavicular joint: dislocations; periarticular fractures of the clavicle in children and adults; swellings, which may be arthritis, infection, or tumours, and rare conditions. The article focusses on how to diagnose and treat these disorders, what to watch out for in clinical practice and how to manage the late diagnosis.