[Treatment of anterior sternoclavicular dislocations. Apropos of 18 cases]

Eighteen cases of subluxation or dislocation of the sterno clavicular joint are reported. Six subluxations have been treated conservatively with prompt and good recovery. Out of twelve dislocations, three have not been operated on : two have recovered satisfactorily, after wiring and capsular suture (two recent cases) and after wiring and ligamentoplasty with palmaris longus (two old cases). But capsular suture and wiring gave only a fair result in one case of recurring dislocation, while tenodesis after Jackson Burrows gave excellent results in three cases. In recent cases, open reduction with wiring and capsular suture is advised, and tenodesis with subclavius, every time capsular suture is unsatisfactory and in all ancient and recurring cases, when troublesome.