Treatment of Posterior Epiphyseal Disruption of the Medial Clavicle with a Modified Balser Plate

BACKGROUND: Acute posterior dislocation of the sternoclavicular joint is a rare but dangerous injury that is often difficult to diagnose. Because of late closure of the medial clavicular epiphysis, epiphyseal disruption must be taken into consideration in patients up to 25 years of age with an apparent diagnosis of posterior sternoclavicular dislocation. We developed a novel method of treating epiphyseal disruptions with a modified Balser plate. METHODS: This method was used in a 19-year-old patient with a posterior epiphyseal disruption of the left medial clavicle. After molding of the plate, the hook was introduced into the manubrium sterni and the plate was fixed on the clavicle with screws. RESULTS: The new method could be applied safely and achieved a good functional result without any external immobilization. The postoperative course was uneventful. CONCLUSION: Fixation of the posterior epiphyseal disruption of the medial clavicle with a modified Balser plate is feasible and may be an alternative to traditional methods.