Arthroscopic Intra-articular Disk Excision of the Sternoclavicular Joint

Abstract

The sternoclavicular joint (SCJ) has a complete intra-articular disk that can be damaged either as a result of trauma or as part of ongoing degenerative joint disease. Although often asymptomatic, SCJ disk tears may lead to mechanical symptoms and pain. Previously, isolated symptomatic SCJ disk tears have only occasionally been mentioned in the literature with a few associated case reports of diskectomy by open arthrotomy. With improved imaging and availability of magnetic resonance imaging scans and the advent of SCJ arthroscopy it is now possible to treat symptomatic SCJ disk tears by arthroscopic excision. In this Technical Note, we describe the diagnosis of a torn SCJ disk and the technique of arthroscopic excision of a torn SCJ disk.