Posterior sternoclavicular dislocations.

The frequency of posterior sternoclavicular dislocations represents 0.019% of the shoulder injuries in the Centre of Traumatology and Orthopedics of Dakar. The posterior form is 0.033% compared to the anterior form. The authors report the cases of posterior sternoclavicular dislocations, occurred with seven men and one woman. Seven of these dislocations were located on the left side, including one case of polytraumatism, one associated with a brachial plexus compression, and one case with a fracture of the kneecap. The authors show the interest of the incidence of Heinig in the diagnosis. The open treatment following the technique of burrows which uses the tendon of the subclavius gives satisfactory results in both functional and anatomical respects. They discuss the orthopaedic methods and insist on their disadvantages, especially in the event of vascular lesion with a risk of haemorrhage of a clogged breach or source of instability, and the difficulty of radiological control after reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]