On July 14th, 2018, the Toronto Blue Jays’ center fielder Kevin Pillar was injured diving to catch a pop up in the third inning against the Red Sox. Pillar went down hard on his right elbow. He returned to the dugout holding his neck. He did not return to the game and was taken to the hospital.
X-Rays and CT scans were obtained at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. According to Blue Jays’ head physical trainer Nikki Huffman, “there are a bunch of ligaments in the joint capsule there, and he stretched through it.” The diagnosis is a grade 1-2 Sternoclavicular SC joint sprain, meaning partial tearing of the ligaments.
The sternum (breastbone) connects to the clavicle (collarbone) where the upper chest meets the neck. A forceful impact, usually during a fall, can dislocate this joint. There is some danger if the clavicle dislocates posteriorly towards blood vessels and the trachea (windpipe).
Recommended treatment was immobilization of the arm in a sling. He is expected to be out 4-6 weeks.
This blog was written by Katharine Clement and David Ring.