Editorial Commentary: Sternoclavicular Joint Osteoarthritis Surgical Treatment Offers Benefits as Well as Risks

Abstract

Sternoclavicular (SC) joint surgical procedures have risks as well as benefits and should be performed by experienced surgeons with a good understanding of the neurovascular anatomy and with a thoracic surgeon on call. Computed tomography angiograms to evaluate the proximity of the SC joint to the blood vessels are essential for preoperative planning. Care must be taken to exclude instability as a cause of SC joint symptoms, and surgeons must avoid causing iatrogenic instability. Both arthroscopic and open approaches can result in excellent clinical outcomes for patients with symptomatic SC arthritis. We prefer an open approach because an arthroscopic approach may have a greater risk of complications. In our experience, after surgical treatment of SC arthritis, 67% of patients return to sport at 2-year minimum follow-up.