RESECTION ARTHROPLASTY OF THE STERNOCLAVICULAR JOINT

The results of resection of the medial end of the clavicle to treat a painful sternoclavicular joint in fifteen patients were retrospectivel y reviewed. The patients fell into two groups: eight patients who had had a primary arthroplasty of the sternoclavicular joint in which the costoclavicular ligament was left intact (group I), and seven patients who had had revision of a failed arthroplasty of the sternoclavicular joint and in whom the costoclavicular ligament had to be reconstructe d (group II). The results for these two groups were compared at an ave rage of 7.7 years postoperatively. All eight patients in group I had a n excellent result. In sharp contrast, three patients in group II had an excellent result, three had a fair result, and one had a poor resul t. We conclude that preservation or reconstruction of the costoclavicu lar ligament is essential at the time of resection of the medial porti on of the clavicle in order to obtain a satisfactory result.