Case Report: Bilateral Proximal Epiphyseal Clavicular Stress-related Lesions in a Male Gymnast

Abstract

Stress lesions of the upper extremity are relatively uncommon, and physeal stress lesions of the clavicle are rare. We present a case of bilateral physeal stress-related lesions of the proximal clavicular growth plate near the sternoclavicular joint in an adolescent male gymnast. A 13-year-old gymnast presented with a 3-week history of insidious onset of pain in the proximal clavicular area of his left shoulder. He had no pain at rest or at night. He recently had added a new maneuver to his routine. His radiographs were normal, but further study with CT scanning confirmed a stress lesion of his proximal clavicular physis. The lesion healed with time, and he returned to gymnastics with no symptoms. Approximately 5 months after the initial symptoms on the left side, he felt a pop and immediate pain in his right sternoclavicular joint area while doing a routine. Imaging revealed a chronic stress lesion of the proximal physis similar to that of the other side. The patient achieved healing with rest and returned to gymnastics with no limitations. Physeal stress-related lesions of the proximal clavicular physis have not been reported in the literature. Medial clavicle pain in adolescent gymnasts may be secondary to stress-related lesions of the proximal clavicular growth plate. Such lesions are rare.