Atraumatic osteolysis of the distal clavicle. A review.

Atraumatic osteolysis of the distal clavicle (AODC) in athletes is a stress failure syndrome of the distal clavicle. It is related to intolerable exercise doses. For some athletes, the acromioclavicular joint is the weak link in the musculoskeletal system. There is never a history of a major injury to the acromioclavicular joint. It occurs principally in young athletes who have a long history of training and performance. It is further characterised by athletes who generally have an associated intense strength training programme. The condition will inexorably progress to decrease the level of performance and later interfere with activities of daily living. If the athlete is unwilling to alter his or her exercise training and performance regimen, she or he will eventually become surgical candidates. The results of excision of the distal clavicle for AODC are good or excellent in virtually all cases. The diagnosis of AODC is confirmed by the history of accumulative exercise doses and the key historical feature of intensive participation in strength training. Local tenderness will be found at the acromioclavicular joint, plain radiographs will show degenerative changes in the vast majority of cases and joint scintigraphy must be positive to confirm the diagnosis.