La luxation sternoclaviculaire postérieure

Abstract

Posterior sternoclavicular dislocations are rarely diagnosed immediately after the traumatism. Most of the time this diagnosis is highlighted when appears compression of vascular or breathing structures. Severe pain in case of normal standard X-rays should alert the physician. Moreover, local deformations are quickly masked by an important swelling and bruising. Posterior sternoclavicular dislocation can cause serious complications. It occurs often in young patients, especially in high-energy traumatisms in case of motor or sports accidents. Any surgical or orthopaedic treatment should be realized into operative theatre. Moreover, if the dislocation is unstable or non-reductible, an open reduced procedure with surgical stabilization is indicated.