Anterior Instability of the Sternoclavicular Joint: Long Term Results from a Tertiary Center in the United Kingdom

Description

The presentation led by Lambros Athanatos outlines findings from a study regarding long-term outcomes of anterior sternoclavicular (SC) joint instability. Athanatos, affiliated with the Leicester rotation, explains the significance of SC joint dislocations, noting their rarity and potential for serious complications due to their proximity to vital mediastinal structures. The study seeks to address the lack of established treatment strategies by investigating outcomes of patients treated using a customized approach, combining physiotherapy and surgical methods. This retrospective analysis encompassed patients treated between 2007 and 2019, assessing their recovery through patient-reported outcome measures, including an adapted Oxford Shoulder Instability Score and visual analog scores for pain.



The study highlights the treatment algorithms constructed around criteria like presence of trauma and joint laxity, noting distinct treatment paths for trauma-associated cases versus non-traumatic ones. Results showed a 75% response rate from questionnaire participants, with over 80% rating their outcomes as good to excellent. Athanatos emphasizes that patient compliance with physiotherapy is key to achieving favorable results. Ultimately, the study serves as a pioneering effort to delineate between patients who require physiotherapy vs. those needing surgical intervention, suggesting significant implications for clinical practices in managing SC joint instability.

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