Know About Sternoclavicular Joint Injuries

Joints are points in the body where two or more bones meet. Some joints are fixed, meaning they only serve to connect bone and don’t allow for movement. Other joints, like those in your ankles, elbows, and shoulders, are mobile joints. The sternoclavicular joint (SC joint) is a joint within your shoulder. Your shoulder uses several different muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, and bones to move properly. The sternoclavicular joint is one of these joints. Your sternoclavicular joint connects your sternum and your clavicle. Your clavicles are your collarbones, two bones that stretch horizontally from the bottom of your neck to your shoulders. Your clavicles are sandwiched between the sternoclavicular joint and acromioclavicular joint, which connects the clavicle to the shoulder blade. The sternum is your chest bone. It starts between your clavicles and goes down the center of your ribcage. The main job of your sternoclavicular joint is to support your shoulder. It’s the only joint that connects your arm to the rest of your body. Your sternoclavicular joint also helps your shoulders move properly. You use it when you: Shrug your shoulders up or pull them back down Pull your shoulder blades back and together Round your shoulders forward Rotate your arm around your shoulder While not very common, your sternoclavicular joint can have problems because of injury or other conditions. Injuries are usually caused by a strong force, such as a car accident or a hit in a contact sport like football. Sternoclavicular joint injuries are divided into three types: Type 1: Sprain Type 2: Subluxation Type 3: Dislocation Aside from injuries, certain medical conditions and disorders can cause issues with your sternoclavicular joint. These include: Condensing osteitis. Condensing osteitis is a rare condition that causes pain and swelling in the SC joint. Friedrich’s disease. Friedrich’s disease is a condition in which the end of the clavicle bone that makes up part of the SC joint begins to die. Gout. Gout is a type of arthritis that causes inflammation and significant pain in a joint. It usually affects the joint of the big toe but has been known to affect the SC joint. Infection. Infections in the SC joint are rare and usually caused by bacteria. Symptoms include discomfort, fever, redness, and swelling. Osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis and happens when the cartilage at the ends of your bones wears down. One study showed that up to 89% of patients above age 50 had signs of osteoarthritis in their SC joint. Rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune form of arthritis. It happens when your body attacks the lining of your joints, which causes painful swelling and can eventually cause bone erosion and joint deformity. Seronegative spondyloarthropathies. Seronegative spondyloarthropathies are a group of autoimmune inflammatory diseases that often affect the joints. These diseases cause pain, stiffness, and swelling within the joints. Synovitis-Acne-Pustulosis-Hyperostosis-Osteitis (SAPHO) Syndrome. SAPHO is a condition that affects the musculoskeletal system and can lead to bone inflammation. If you’ve sustained an injury to your shoulder or clavicle or notice that you’re having pain or difficulty using your shoulder, contact your healthcare provider.