Nontraumatic clavicular osteolysis in weight lifters.

In a previous study, we found an overrepresentation of weight lifters in patients who had a resection of the lateral end of the clavicle. To further investigate a possible association between competitive weight lifting and the development of nontraumatic osteolysis of the lateral end of the clavicle, we studied a group of 25 Danish weight lifters. This group was compared to an age-matched control group of 25 men who had never engaged in weight training procedures. None of the subjects had any history of trauma to the shoulder girdle. All 50 subjects underwent radiographic examination of both shoulder joints. In the weight lifter group, seven cases (28%) demonstrated classical radiographic findings of clavicular osteolysis, with loss of subchondral bone detail, translucency, and cystic changes, while four subjects (16%) had subjective symptoms but no radiographic changes. None of the individuals from the control group revealed similar symptoms or radiographic signs. Thus, based on this limited material, the prevalence of the disorder is about 27%.