SAQ 276 – Trauma – posterior sternoclavicular joint dislocation

Review Completed

Marked out of 12.00

A 26-year-old man develops severe right shoulder and chest pain after a direct blow to the upper anterior chest during rugby. His chest x-ray is shown below.

Chest x-ray after upper chest trauma — Chest x-ray

State two (2) positive findings on the chest x-ray.

(Marked out of 2.0)

/ 2

A CT confirms a right posterior sternoclavicular joint dislocation. List five (5) anatomical structures at risk and one specific examination finding suggesting injury to each.

(Marked out of 10.0)

Structure at risk	Supporting examination finding
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

/ 10

Total Score: 0 / 12

Percentage: 0%

Structure	Possible examination finding
Trachea or recurrent laryngeal nerve	Hoarseness, stridor, or neck subcutaneous emphysema.
Subclavian vessels	Ipsilateral upper-limb ischaemia or signs of haemothorax.
Brachial plexus	Ipsilateral upper-limb motor or sensory deficit.
Lung or pleura	Reduced air entry, hypoxia, subcutaneous emphysema, or tracheal deviation.
Oesophagus	Dysphagia or odynophagia.
Brachiocephalic vessels or aortic arch	Venous congestion, bruit, stroke signs, embolic phenomena, or upper-limb BP discrepancy.

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