Medial Clavicular Epiphysis Research Articles

Bone age determination based on the study of the medial extremity of the clavicle.

The development of the medial clavicular epiphysis and its fusion with the clavicular shaft have been a subject of medical research since the second decade of this century. Computed tomography provides the imaging modality of choice in analyzing the maturation process of the sternal end of the clavicle. In a retrospective study, we analyzed normal development in 380 individuals under the age of 30 years. The appearance of an epiphyseal ossification center occurred between ages 11 and 22 years. Partial union was found from age 16 until age 26 years. Complete union was first noted at age 22 years and in 100 % of the sample at age 27 years. Based on these data, age-related standardized age distributions and 95 % reference intervals were calculated. Compared to the experience recorded in the relevant literature, there are several landmarks that show no significant change between different ethnic groups and different periods of publication; these are the onset of ossification, the time span of partial union, and the appearance of complete union. Despite the relatively long time spans of the maturation stages, bone age estimation based on the study of the development of the medial clavicular epiphysis may be a useful tool in forensic age identification in living individuals, especially if the age of the subject is about the end of the second or the beginning of the third decade of life (e. g. in determining the applicability of adult or juvenile penal systems). Another possible use is in identifying human remains whose age is estimated at under 30 years.

Acute and Chronic Traumatic Injuries of the Sternoclavicular Joint.

Acute and chronic traumatic injuries of the sternoclavicular joint require accurate diagnosis and management if complications are to be avoided. Sternoclavicular subluxation or dislocation, medial clavicle physeal injuries, and degenerative arthritis are the most frequently diagnosed of these relatively uncommon injuries. The medial clavicular epiphysis does not ossify until the 18th to 20th year. Knowledge of its developmental anatomy is essential because most physeal injuries will heal with time without surgical intervention. In contrast, posterior dislocation of the sternoclavicular joint requires prompt closed or open reduction, as posterior displacement of the medial clavicle has been associated with numerous complications, including respiratory distress, venous congestion or arterial insufficiency, brachial plexus compression, and myocardial conduction abnormalities. A myriad of procedures have been recommended for repair or reconstruction of the sternoclavicular joint. On the basis of the authors' experience and review of the literature, they advocate surgical resection of the medial clavicle, with maintenance, repair, or reconstruction of the costoclavicular ligaments, when surgery is indicated. Metallic-pin fixation of the joint should be avoided, as Steinmann pins, Kirschner wires, threaded pins with bent ends, and Hagie pins have all been reported to migrate and cause serious complications, including death.