Traumatic posterior dislocation of the sternoclavicular joint in a 12-year-old boy: a case report

Sternoclavicular joint (SCJ) dislocation is a rare but serious orthopedic injury, representing fewer than 1% of all fractures or dislocations. Posterior dislocations are particularly concerning due to the SCJ's proximity to vital structures such as the trachea, esophagus, subclavian vessels, and brachial plexus. Clinical suspicion should be heightened when a patient presents with a compression-type injury to the shoulder girdle and pain around the SCJ. We report the case of a 12-year-old boy who presented to the emergency department after being punched in the right shoulder by another child, resulting in severe pain and an inability to move his right shoulder. Clinical assessment raised suspicion for a posterior SCJ dislocation, which was confirmed by computed tomography scan. The rarity of this condition in pediatric patients, coupled with the potential for severe complications, underscores the significance of this case for clinical recognition and management.