Case of the Week – This case of the week features a rare diagnosis!

This case features a rare diagnosis!

A 34-year-old weightlifter presented to the emergency department with right shoulder pain. The emergency clinician ordered an x-ray of the patient’s right shoulder and a CT of the right shoulder. Our diagnostic radiology attending physician, Dr. Nisha Mani, assisted by R1/PGY-2 radiology resident, Dr. Daniel Rapado Barreto, reviewed the images of this case. They diagnosed the patient with post-traumatic distal clavicle osteolysis due to repetitive weightlifting.

Distal clavicle osteolysis is the painful development of bony erosions and resorption of the distal clavicle caused by repetitive trauma to the acromioclavicular (AC) joint. It is an uncommon diagnosis as it is most often seen in young, male weightlifters. A combination of activity modification, rest, anti-inflammatory medications, steroid injections into the joint, and/or physical therapy will typically resolve pain due to bone resorption.