Abstract
In recent years, there has been a trend from operative to conservative management of complete acromioclavicular separations. Despite this, surgical treatment is still recommended to manual workers and athletes, who account for a large part of the patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the functional outcome of type III separations according to Tossy managed by temporary arthrodesis of the acromioclavicular joint combined with coracoclavicular augmentation. Special attention was paid to sport exercising patients. In this study, 32 patients (mean age 39 years) with a complete acromioclavicular separation were investigated. All of them underwent a surgical treatment managed by temporary acromioclavicular arthrodesis with two parallel k-wires and augmentation of the coracoclavicular ligaments with a biodegradable cord (PDS). Functional outcome was assessed after an average follow-up of 36 months by using the Constant-Murley-, Neer- and DASH-score. Additionally, incidence of complications and subjective results were observed. Evaluation of the data, obtained from the scores, revealed an excellent result for the Constant-Murley- and DASH-score for 84% of the patients. Regarding the Neer-score, 78% had an excellent outcome. Eighty-four percent of the patients assessed revealed an excellent to fair subjective result. Cosmetic reasons were most frequently the cause for discontentedness. Minor complications occurred in three patients without severe sequelae. All patients returned back to former working and sport activity level. Surgical treatment of complete acromioclavicular separations by temporary arthrodesis with two k-wires and coracoclavicualar PDS-augmentation results in good to excellent function. It is associated with a low complication rate and a high patient contentedness. Particularly for athletes in non-contact sports this surgical technique can still be recommended.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
