the clavicle or indirect forces applied to the shoulder. Posterior dislocations deserve special attention, as they have the potential to be life-threatening because of the risk of damage to vital structures in the mediastinum; surgery can be used to fix such dislocations, as they are unlikely to heal by themselves. A spontaneous partial dislocation may also sometimes occur. Other In SAPHO syndrome there may be arthropathy of the sternoclavicular joint. Septic arthritis may rarely affect the sternoclavicular joint. See also Acromioclavicular joint Shoulder Shoulder girdle (Pectoral girdle) Shoulder joint References External links Overview at ouhsc.edu Joints Thorax (human anatomy)