Chronic dislocation of the sternoclavicular joint: an operative repair

Chronic spontaneous dislocation of the sternoclavicular joint occurs more frequently in athletes than nonathletes, causing weakness and sometimes pain during prolonged stress upon the arm. Five such joints were successfully treated in 4 patients by means of a dynamic method of repair--tenodesis of the sternal head of the sternomastoid muscle. The sternal origin of the sternomastoid muscle in continuity with its muscle belly and strip of sternal periosteum is looped under the first rib, back through a drill hole in the clavicle and sutured to itself to replace the damaged costoclavicular ligament. Dislocations of the joint should not be repaired for purely cosmetic reasons as the risk of keloid scar formation in this region is notoriously high. All the patients who were young and athletically inclined, recovered fully within 4 months of the operation and returned to their sporting activities. Follow-up has ranged from 12 to 38 months. There have been no late complications or failures of the technique.