Acromioclavicular disjunctions: surgical treatment options

Abstract

Introduction: Acromioclavicular disjunctions occur most commonly in active or athletic young adults and it is one of the most common shoulder problem, accounting 9% of all shoulder injuries. The aim of our paper is to present several surgical techniques. Material and methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of the cases of acromioclvicular disjunction from the orthopedic department. It was found that from a total of 42 cases, 15 had surgical indication and the rest were either treated conservatively or refused treatment. Discussion: The two most used surgical techniques were Weaver - Dunn and Dewar – Barrington. Weaver - Dunn is a technique whereby the coracoid tip is fixed to the collarbone with a screw. Dewar - Barrington is a technique that consists in transferring the end coracoacromial external ligament of clavicle. Conclusion: Treatment of acromioclavicular disjunctions has been a subject of debate. In general, surgical management should be offered acutely only to those who require high-level upper extremity function and late to those with significant shoulder pain and/or dysfunction refractory to nonoperative treatment. The orthopedic surgeon has the freedom to choose from a variety of tehniques.