Minimum 10-Year Clinical and Functional Outcomes, and Return to Sport After Sternoclavicular Joint Reconstruction for Sternoclavicular Joint Instability
Authors: Hinz Maximilian , Kopolovich Daniel , Kanakamedala Ajay C. , Davis Caleb , Horan Marilee P. , Drumm Amelia , Rupp Marco-Christopher , Provencher Matthew T. , Millett Peter J. 
Published: January 2025

Background:

Sternoclavicular joint (SCJ) instability can lead to pain, reduced function, and an inability to perform sports and activities of daily living. Reconstruction of the SCJ using hamstring autograft in a figure-of-8 configuration has demonstrated good outcomes at short- and midterm follow-ups, but there is a paucity of literature on long-term outcomes.

Purpose:

To evaluate the long-term clinical and functional outcomes after SCJ reconstruction, with a focus on return to sport, instability recurrence, and revision surgery.

Study Design:

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

Patients who underwent SCJ reconstruction with a hamstring autograft for the treatment of SCJ instability between December 2010 and June 2013 by a single surgeon with a minimum 10-year follow-up were eligible for inclusion. Patient-reported outcome measures, including the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) Score, short version of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (QuickDASH) questionnaire, Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE), visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, and patient satisfaction (1-10 scale, with 10 indicating maximum satisfaction), rates of return to sport, instability recurrence, and revision surgery, were evaluated at short- (2-3 years), mid- (5-8 years), and long-term (minimum 10 years) follow-ups.

Results:

Eleven patients (13 shoulders) were evaluated at a median of 10.0 years (IQR, 10.0-11.0 years) postoperatively. SCJ instability was chronic in 12 shoulders (92.3%) and acute in 1 shoulder (7.7%). One shoulder underwent revision SCJ reconstruction and was excluded from further analysis (survivorship: 92.3%). Significant pre- to postoperative improvements in shoulder function and pain were observed at short-term follow-up and were either maintained or further improved at mid- and long-term follow-ups. At a minimum of 10 years postoperatively, shoulder function (median ASES score: 95.0 [IQR, 86.2-97.5]; median QuickDASH: 12.5 [IQR, 6.8-15.9]; median SANE: 89.0 [IQR, 81.5-96.3]) was excellent, pain levels were low (median VAS for pain: 0.5 [IQR, 0-1.8]), and patient satisfaction was high (median, 9.0 [IQR, 8.0-10]). All patients returned to sport (n = 10; 100%) at levels equal to or above (n = 3; 30.0%) or slightly below (n = 7; 70.0%) their preinjury level. Two of these patients (20.0%) reported instability-related modifications in activity. One patient had recurrent instability 2.5 years postoperatively but had excellent shoulder function at the final follow-up. The overall rate of instability recurrence was 36.4% (4/11 patients).

Conclusion:

SCJ reconstruction using a hamstring autograft for the treatment of SCJ instability resulted in significant improvements in shoulder function, low levels of pain, and high return-to-sport rates at long-term follow-up. Revision surgery rates were low.