Acute traumatic retrosternal dislocation of the clavicle.

A review of the literature on acute traumatic retrosternal dislocations of the clavicle revealed that closed reduction often fails. In six of our seven patients retraction of the shoulders with caudal traction on the adducted arm, while the patient was supported by an interscapular bolster, achieved reduction of the dislocation. We analyzed the mechanism of this and other methods of closed reduction.