Diagnostic Ultrasonographic Diagnosis of Posttraumatic Osteolysis of the Distal Clavicle in a 24-Year-Old Bodybuilder: A Case Report With Correlative Radiographs and Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this case study is to demonstrate the strength of diagnostic ultrasound in the evaluation of posttraumatic osteolysis of the distal clavicle (PTOC) when compared with radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). CLINICAL FEATURES: The patient is a 24-year-old male bodybuilding athlete with focal tenderness of the left acromioclavicular joint. After a plain film examination, both diagnostic ultrasound and MRI were performed. Each form of imaging demonstrated frank fragmentation of the distal clavicular margin of the acromioclavicular joint, with evidence of hyperemia shown on both. INTERVENTION AND OUTCOME: After the diagnosis of PTOC was established, the patient was successfully led through conservative measures that included activity and weight-training modification, rest, anti-inflammatory modalities, and kinesio taping.
CONCLUSION: This case report adequately demonstrates the value of diagnostic musculoskeletal ultrasound in diagnosing PTOC, with comparison to radiographs and MRI.