BIOMECHANICAL ASPECTS OF CLAVICULECTOMY - CASE-REPORT OF A ROWER WITHEWINGS-SARCOMA

Because of poorly compartmentalized paraclavicular soft tissues, total extraperiostal claviculectomy in cases of malignoma with cortical des truction is always marginal. Due to different muscular compensation in the patients examined, literature disagrees on the biomechanical cons equences of claviculectomy for the shoulder girdle. We present a case of total clavicula resection including chemotherapy and radiation in a n 18-year-old rower with Ewing's sarcoma. Sixteen-month postoperative radiological and clinical examination revealed an excellent result. Th irty-six months postoperatively the patient is able to row symptom-fre e without any evidence of the disease. Biomechanical reflections on th e significance of the trapezius muscle in compensating thoracoscapular instability provide information for rehabilitation.