Radiographs Clavicle

A companion shadow related to the upper border of the clavicle, due to overlying soft tissues is seen frequently on chest radiographs (CXR) at all ages, but is more common in older children when the bone is oriented horizontally (Fig. 7.2). This normal appearance may be incorrectly mistaken for perio-... 

Congenital pseudoarthrosis of the clavicle may he mistaken for a fracture. This condition is almost always right sided and rarely hilateral. It usually presents with a painless, palpable prominence in the mid-portion of the clavicle. Approximately half of all patients present in the first 2 weeks of life, the others during childhood. The differential diagnosis includes cleidocranial dysostosis or a birth injury. Radiographically there is a defect in the middle segment of the clavicle, and the ends of the bones are... 

Clavicular fractures are by far the most frequent and maybe discovered incidentally on a chest radiograph or clinically with the development of the hard lump of callus. The humerus is the commonest long bone to be fractured at birth. In Cumming s series of 23 birth related fractures the sites were clavicle, humerus and... 

Injuries of the medial end of the clavicle account for under 1% of clavicle fractures in children. They can occur if there is compression to the shoulder during contact sports such as ruby. Rather than the sternoclavicular dislocation seen in adults, which they mimic, these are Salter-Harris type I or II fractures (Denham andDiNGLEv 1967). They are poorly seen on radiographs and CT or MR imaging are indicated, especially if (with posterior displacement) there is evidence of dysphagia or respiratory or vascular compromise (Fig. 17.2). If there is evidence of... 

Fig. 18.29 Posteroanterior chest radiograph (A) demonstrating complete separation of the conductor coil of the ventricular lead as it passes helow the clavicle (upper arrow). (Lower arrow, a suhoptimaUy positioned atrial lead that is too shallow.) In the close-up view (B), the arrow again denotes the separation of the conductor coil.

Any joint in the upper extremity may dislocate if sufficient force is applied to it. The glenohumeral joint is especially prone to dislocating, usually in an anterior direction. A prominent end of the clavicle and loss of roundness of the shoulder may indicate a dislocation. Frequently there is an associated tear of the capsule. With any joint dislocation, radiographic imaging should be obtained to rule out an associated fracture. 

Fig. 6.148a,b. Post-traumatic osteolysis of the clavicle, a Coronal 10-5 MHz US image with b radiographic correlation in a patient with painful tenderness over the acromioclavicular joint 6 months after a trauma demonstrates an irregular erosion arrows) of the distal end of the clavicle. Acr, acromion. (Courtesy of Dr. Nicolo Prato, Italy)... 

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