[Arthrosis of the sternoclavicular joint]

A comprehensive study of the sternoclavicular joints (SCG) of 120 autopsy cases comprising both sexes and all age groups has proved that this non-weight-bearing joint turns arthritic with increasing age. The degenerative lesions set on already from the 3rd decade; between 40 and 50 years of age, 84% of the joints are arthrotic, and over 70, all patients show an osteoarthrosis. Statistically significant relationships could further be demonstrated between SCG-arthrosis, aging, obesity, fatty degeneration of the liver, and severe arteriosclerosis.