Persistent Shoulder Pain After Fall: Posterior Dislocation of the Sternoclavicular Joint

A 36-year-old healthy male presented to the emergency department (ED) after an unwitnessed fall while intoxicated complaining of severe right-sided shoulder pain. Initial plain radiography of the chest and right shoulder was negative. After observation in the ED he continued to have unrelenting pain to the right shoulder and chest. Physical examination revealed maximum point tenderness over the medial clavicle and sternoclavicular joint (SCJ); however, no soft tissue defect or vascular compromise was noted.
Source: The Journal of Emergency Medicine - Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Tags: Visual Diagnosis in Emergency Medicine Source Type: research