Point-of-Care Ultrasound Diagnosis of Posterior Sternoclavicular Joint Dislocation.

BACKGROUND: Posterior sternoclavicular dislocations can be challenging diagnostically, as traumatic force often happens to the lateral shoulder rather than directly to the sternoclavicular joint. Shoulder radiographs do not illustrate the sternoclavicular joint well, and can miss the diagnosis. This injury, however, has the potential for life-threatening complications due to proximity of mediastinal structures that might also be injured.

CASE REPORT: The following case illustrates a delayed diagnosis of posterior sternoclavicular dislocation. It also shows how point-of-care ultrasound can diagnose a dislocation, confirm persistence of a dislocation diagnosis when patients are transported from a referring facility, as well as educate the patient and family. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Point-of-care ultrasound can be used to rapidly diagnose posterior sternoclavicular dislocations and to provide patients education about their injury.