The Lump On Collarbone sternoclavicular (SC) joint is one among the four joints that complete the shoulder. The joint is found within the spot where the clavicle (collarbone) meets the sternum (breastbone) at the bottom of the neck.

Injuries to the SC joint typically result from automobile accidents or participation in collision sports like football. While these injuries lump on collarbone are often painful, most are relatively minor and can heal well without surgery. Very rarely, a tough blow to the SC joint can damage the vital organs and tissues that lie nearby. When this happens, it’s a significant injury that needs immediate medical attention.

The SC joint also can be damaged over time, because the protective tissue that covers the ends of the bones gradually wears away. this sort of degenerative change within the joint can cause pain, stiffness, and reduced motion within the shoulder and arm.

Anatomy

The sternoclavicular (SC) joint is that the linkage between the clavicle (collarbone) and therefore the sternum (breastbone). The SC joint supports the shoulder and is that the only joint that connects the arm to the body.

Like the other joints within the body, the SC joint is roofed with a smooth, slippery substance called articular cartilage. This cartilage helps the bones glide easily along one another as you progress your arm and shoulder. Tough bands of animal tissue called ligaments surround the SC joint, giving it strength and stability.

Description

Injuries and osteoarthritis are the foremost common disorders related to the SC joint.

Injuries

In rare cases,  a robust blow to the shoulder can cause an injury during which the joint dislocates completely from its normal position. Joint dislocations are classified as either “anterior” or “posterior,” counting on the direction during which the collarbone is pushed during the injury:

Anterior—the end of the clavicle is pushed forward, ahead of the sternum (breastbone)
Although both sorts of dislocations are serious injuries, a posterior dislocation requires more urgent medical attention. during a posterior dislocation, the vital structures behind the SC joint are often compressed, resulting in life-threatening problems with breathing or blood flow.

• Top) Normal shoulder anatomy.
• (Center) In an anterior dislocation, the top of the clavicle is pushed forward, ahead of the sternum.
• (Bottom) during a posterior dislocation, the top of the clavicle is pushed behind the sternum, toward several of the body’s vital structures.

Causes Of Injury:

The ligaments surrounding the lump on collarbone SC joint are a number of the strongest within the body, so it takes an excellent deal of force to cause an injury. Typically, injuries to the joint are caused by some sort of high-impact event, like a:

• Collision or hard fall during a sport like football or rugby
• Motor vehicle accident

Because of the many force needed to cause an injury, patients can also have additional injuries to the chest, airways, and extremities. In some cases, injury to the SC joint is overlooked initially because these other injuries require urgent attention.

Osteoarthritis:

Osteoarthritis may be a degenerative “wear and tear” sort of arthritis that happens most frequently in people 50 years aged or older, though it’s going to occur in younger people, too.

Osteoarthritis develops slowly and therefore the pain and stiffness it causes worsens over time.

Other Disorders Related to the SC Joint Include:

Inflammatory conditions, like atrophic arthritis

Infection

In addition, some patients may experience slight movement or popping of the bone out of place even without some sort of trauma. This condition is named “subluxation” and seems to be limited to those people that are considered “loose jointed.”

Symptoms

The most common symptom of an SC joint disorder is pain within the area lump on collarbone where the clavicle meets the sternum. This pain are going to be present with a sprain but are going to be much sharper within the case of a fracture or dislocation—especially once you plan to move your arm.

Other Signs and Symptoms may Include:

• Swelling, bruising, or tenderness over the joint
• A crunching or grinding sound once you attempt to move your arm
• Limited range of motion within the arm
• With an inflammatory condition, like atrophic arthritis , you’ll have simultaneous pain in other joints in your body

With a joint infection, there could also be redness over the joint and you’ll have fever, chills, or night sweats. If you experience any of the symptoms of a joint infection, it’s important to hunt medical attention directly .

Doctor Examination

Physical Examination
Your doctor will talk with you about your medical record and general health and ask about your symptoms. He or she is going to want to understand when your pain began and whether there’s a history of injury or accident.

Your doctor will search for visible signs of deformity or a bump over the joint. He or she is going to then perform a careful examination of your shoulder area. During the exam, your doctor will:

• Assess range of motion in your arm
• Check your pulse at the wrist and elbow to make sure there’s good blood flow to your hand and fingers

Imaging Studies

Your doctor will order x-rays of your chest and shoulder from variety of various angles to assist confirm the diagnosis and rule out other underlying lump on collarbone shoulder conditions.

Computerized tomography (CT) scan. This imaging study is more detailed than a clear x-ray. Your doctor may order a CT scan to raised evaluate your injury and to assist differentiate a sprain from a dislocation or a fracture.

Other imaging studies. counting on your specific problem, your doctor may order additional imaging studies, like a resonance imaging (MRI) scan or bone scan.

Treatment

Nonsurgical Treatment:
In most cases, disorders of the SC joint are often treated without surgery. Nonsurgical treatment may include:

Medications. non steroidal anti-inflammatory drug drugs (NSAIDs), like ibuprofen and naproxen, can help reduce pain and swelling within the joint.

If you’ve got osteoarthritis or an inflammatory condition, your doctor can also recommend strong anti-inflammatory agents called contortionists, which are injected directly into the joint.

Immobilization. If you’ve got an injury, your doctor may recommend that you simply wear a shoulder sling to limit arm movement and permit for healing. The length of your time you’ll got to wear the sling depends upon the severity of your injury.

Activity Modification:

The doctor may recommend that patients with SC joint osteoarthritis avoid the activities that cause painful symptoms.

For patients who experience non traumatic dislocation of the joint (subluxation), the doctor can also recommend avoiding the activities that make the joint “pop.”

Closed Reduction:

If you’ve got a joint dislocation, your doctor may attempt to manipulate the clavicle back to place without making an incision within the skin. This procedure is named a closed reduction. A closed reduction is typically performed within the OR . you’ll tend either general anaesthesia or a relaxant.

function—although there could also be a deformity or bump over the joint.

Because a posterior dislocation can compress the vital structures behind the joint, it always requires urgent reduction. Getting the joint back to the right position is vital . During closed reduction for a posterior dislocation, a thoracic surgeon could also be available to deal with potential complications involving the structures within the chest.

Surgical Treatment:

Open reduction. In some cases, closed reduction for a posterior dislocation isn’t successful. during this situation, your doctor may have to perform an open reduction of the SC joint. to try to to this, he or she is going to make an incision and put the joint back in situ under direct vision. These patients may require plastic surgery to stabilize the joint.

Other procedures. For patients with an infection within the SC joint, an instantaneous operation is typically required lump on collarbone to open the joint and drain the infection. this may be followed by a course of antibiotics.

Surgery for osteoarthritis also can be performed, although it’s rarely required. If your pain and stiffness can’t be managed with nonsurgical treatment, however, your doctor may perform a procedure to get rid of bone from the arthritic and painful end of the clavicle. this may allow more room for movement.

Recovery

After a fracture or dislocation of the SC joint, your arm could also be immobilized during a sling for up to six weeks or more. Even when the sling is removed, you’ll still have restrictions on lifting. for instance , you’ll be restricted from lift anything quite a glass of water for up to many months. These restrictions hold true following surgery also . Immobilizing and not using your arm allows the healing process to require place.

Your doctor may provide you with a home therapy plan or recommend that you simply work with a physiotherapist .