Arthroscopic excision of the sternoclavicular joint for the treatment of sternoclavicular osteoarthritis.

PURPOSE

To report the results of a series of 10 patients who underwent an arthroscopic excision of the sternoclavicular joint (SCJ) for osteoarthritis refractory to conservative treatment.

METHODS

We undertook an arthroscopic excision of the SCJ in 10 patients with osteoarthritis. There were 7 female and 3 male patients with a mean age at surgery of 53 years (range, 42 to 62 years). Patients were assessed preoperatively and at follow-up with the Constant score and the Rockwood SCJ scoring system. The mean follow-up was 28 months (range, 17 to 41 months; SD, 8.1 months). Surgery was undertaken as a day case with no shoulder immobilization.

RESULTS

All of the patients had regained their preoperative or full range of movement within 2 weeks of surgery. At most recent follow-up, 7 patients had no pain and 3 had slight pain with activity. The median Constant score had increased from 64.5 (range, 41 to 77) to 83 (range, 61 to 95), and the median Rockwood score had increased from 6 (range, 4 to 7) to 13.5 (range, 9 to 15) (maximum, 15). On the basis of these findings, the clinical results were rated as excellent (13 to 15) in 7 patients, good (10 to 12) in 2, and fair (7 to 9) in 1. There were no complications and, specifically, no problems with joint stability.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study show that arthroscopic SCJ excision is a satisfactory treatment for SCJ osteoarthritis refractory to conservative measures.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV, therapeutic case series.