Pain where your collarbone meets your breastbone after a crash
Shoulder and chest trauma specialists explain SC joint injuries
The inner end of your collarbone meets the breastbone at the sternoclavicular joint, or SC joint. A hard crash can sprain this joint or push the bone out of place. If the bone slips forward, a bump may show up near the middle of your chest. A backward slip can press on structures behind the joint. These include the airway, the food pipe and blood vessels. Which way the bone moved matters more than how big the bump looks. [1]
Find out which way the bone moved
Tell your doctor about pain at the inner end of the collarbone. Mention a new bump or dip, trouble moving your shoulder or a change in your voice. Ask if you needed a CT scan to tell apart a sprain, a fracture and a forward or backward dislocation. Find out what other chest injuries turned up. Never try to push the bone back yourself. [1]
Chest or throat symptoms are an emergency
After this injury, get emergency care for trouble breathing, choking or trouble swallowing. The same goes for a change in your voice, feeling faint or an arm that is cold or weak. A backward dislocation often needs a specialist to put it back in place quickly. If yours has already been treated, ask which signs could mean it slipped again. Learn who to call if that happens. [1]
Protect the joint while it heals
After a sprain or a dislocation that has been treated, ask how long to wear the sling. Find out which shoulder movements are safe. A therapist may help you get back motion and strength. A bump left over after a forward dislocation won’t always affect how well the shoulder works. At your follow up, bring up lasting pain, a joint that feels unstable or symptoms of pressure. [1]
Questions about the joint and your chest
- Did my collarbone move forward or backward?
- Were my airway and blood vessels checked?
- What movement and follow up plan should I follow now?
Keep your scan results handy
Store your imaging results with your discharge papers. Add the instructions that tell you when to return for emergency care. [1]
Sources and further reading
Written for general education from orthopedic shoulder and chest trauma viewpoints. When this joint dislocates backward, it can threaten structures inside the chest. Get emergency care for any trouble breathing or swallowing.
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