The sternoclavicular joint (SCJ) is an integral part of the shoulder girdle that connects the upper limb to the axial skeleton.Swelling of the SCJ is commonly due to trauma, degeneration, infections and other disease processes that affect synovial joints.This review also focuses on uncommon conditions that could affect the SCJ, including SAPHO (synovitis, acne, pustulosis, hyperostosis, osteitis) syndrome, Friedrich’s disease and Tietze syndrome.The scope of this review is limited to the analysis of the current evidence on the various conditions affecting the SCJ and also to provide an algorithm to manage these conditions.Cite this article: EFORT Open Rev 2018;3:471-484. DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.3.170078

An unusual grayish brown discoloration of the synovium was found during a knee arthroscopy of a 72-year-old man. He also had similar pigmentation affecting the skin on the legs, arms, hands, and face. It was found he had been taking 400 mg of amiodarone hydrochloride daily for last 7 years. Amiodarone is known to cause a slate grey pigmentation of skin and cornea, but we believe this is the first report of amiodarone-induced pigmentation of the synovium. The arthroscopist should be aware of the possibility of drug-related synovial pigmentation and include this in differential diagnosis.