Abstract

Coracoclavicular joint is a diarthrotic synovial joint occasionally present between the conoid tubercle of the clavicle and the superior surface of the horizontal part of the coracoid process.  We investigated the prevalence of the coracoclavicular joint using 1637 antero-posterior chest and shoulder radiographs of adults in a Nigerian population, comprising 963 males and 674 females, aged 18 – 88 years. We found nine with coracoclavicular joint, one of which was bilateral and eight unilateral.  Of the unilateral coracoclavicular joint, five were present on the right and three on the left.  Furthermore, five of the coracoclavicular joint occurred in men while four were in women, giving an overall prevalence of the coracoclavicular joint in our studied population as 0.55% at 95% confidence interval of 2.16 – 12.67. The prevalence when compared with previously reported studies indicated that the frequency of the joint is low and its occurrence is rare among most populations, but significantly higher among Asians. This study documents, probably for the first time, the prevalence of coracoclavicular joint in a Western Africa population.

Key words: Coracoclavicular joint, prevalence, clavicle, joint.