Distal clavicle fracture as a complication of arthroscopic distal clavicle resection

Iatrogenic Excessive Clavicle Resection as a Complication of Arthroscopic Distal Clavicle Excision

Arthroscopic distal clavicle excision (DCE) is a reliable procedure to treat acromioclavicular joint arthritis. Typically, only 1 to 2 cm of distal clavicle should be removed. Resection of too much bone can lead to instability of the joint or lack of support to the shoulder. We describe 2 patients who had excessive clavicular bone removed arthroscopically, leading to irreparable clavicular pain and dysfunction. The 2 female patients, ages 56 and 60 years, presented to our clinic with continued pain after DCE. Both had pain intractable with nonoperative treatment and loss of range of motion of the shoulder. Radiographs revealed a distal clavicle defect of 7.5 cm in 1 patient. The second patient had a 2-cm distal clavicular defect with an adjacent 2-cm clavicle bone fragment between the defect and residual clavicle shaft. Both underwent surgery with subtotal claviculectomy for pain control. During surgery, 1 patient had a subclavian vein requiring vascular repair. After 1 year of follow-up, both patients had reduced but residual pain and restricted range of motion. Only 1 patient could rejoin her preinjury occupation. Neither patient could continue with preinjury recreational sports. Excessive removal of the distal clavicle during DCE can result in continued pain and disability of the shoulder. Methods to visualize the anatomy of the distal clavicle and its articulation to the acromion should be considered when performing this operation arthroscopically. Reoperation to remove subtotal clavicle has good clinical outcomes but may lead to serious complications due to the proximity to major neurovascular structures. [Orthopedics. 2024;47(1):e57-e60.].

Arthroscopic Distal Clavicle and Medial Border of Acromion Resection for Symptomatic Acromioclavicular Joint Osteoarthritis

Acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis can lead to persistent shoulder pain. Distal clavicle excision is the most common operative procedure in patients with failed, conservative symptomatic acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis treatment, with some reports of complications. This report describes an alternative procedure that can be used to excise the distal clavicle together with the medial border of the acromion. This technique is a simple procedure because the standard distal clavicle excision can preserve the acromioclavicular ligament, as well as the joint capsule, and achieve an adequate resection length.

[Fractures of the lateral clavicle and acromion]

Fractures of the lateral clavicle and the acromion are uncommon and represent a separate entity. Fractures of the lateral clavicle demonstrate a high rate of problems, such as non-union, malunion and functional impairment when treated nonoperatively. The aim of any treatment option is full restoration of shoulder function by achieving fracture healing without significant malpositioning. Unstable fracture patterns have to be identified and should be fixed using an appropriate technique, which include plating, K-wire fixation and arthroscopic techniques which bring the dislocated fragments into contact. Dislocated fractures of the acromion can usually be treated by plating.

Manual physical therapy for injection-confirmed nonacute acromioclavicular joint pain

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective single-cohort study.

OBJECTIVES

To determine and document changes in pain and disability in patients with primary, nonacute acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) pain treated with a manual therapy approach.

BACKGROUND

To our knowledge, there are no published studies on the physical therapy management of nonacute ACJ pain. Manual physical therapy has been successful in the treatment of other shoulder conditions.

METHODS

The chief inclusion criterion was greater than 50% pain relief with an ACJ diagnostic injection. Patients were excluded if they had sustained an ACJ injury within the previous 12 months. Treatment was conducted utilizing a manual physical therapy approach that addressed all associated impairments in the shoulder girdle and cervicothoracic spine. The primary outcome measure was the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index. Secondary measures were the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeon and global rating of change scales. Outcomes were collected at baseline, 4 weeks, and 6 months. The Shoulder Pain and Disability Index and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeon scale values were analyzed with a repeated-measures analysis of variance.

RESULTS

Thirteen patients (11 male; mean ± SD age, 41.1 ± 9.6 years) completed treatment consisting of an average of 6.4 sessions. Compared to baseline, there was a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement for the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index at 4 weeks (P = .001; mean, 25.9 points; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 11.9, 39.8) and 6 months (P<.001; mean, 29.8 points; 95% CI: 16.5, 43.0), and the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeon scale at 4 weeks (P<.001; mean, 27.9 points; 95% CI: 14.7, 41.1) and 6 months (P<.001; mean, 32.6 points; 95% CI: 21.2, 43.9).

CONCLUSION

Statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements were observed in all outcome measures at 4 weeks and 6 months, following a short series of manual therapy interventions. These results, in a small cohort of patients, suggest the efficacy of this treatment approach but need to be verified by a randomized controlled trial.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapy, level 4.

Biomechanical evaluation of a novel reverse coracoacromial ligament reconstruction for acromioclavicular joint separation

BACKGROUND

Enhancing anterior-posterior (AP) stability in acromioclavicular (AC) reconstruction may be advantageous.

PURPOSE

To compare the initial stability of AC reconstructions with and without augmentation by either (1) a novel "reverse" coracoacromial (CA) ligament transfer or (2) an intramedullary AC tendon graft.

HYPOTHESIS

Reverse CA transfer will improve AP stability compared with isolated coracoclavicular (CC) reconstruction.

STUDY DESIGN

Controlled laboratory study.

METHODS

Six matched pairs of cadaveric shoulders underwent distal clavicle resection and CC reconstruction. Displacement (mm) was measured during cyclic loading along AP (±25 N) and superior-inferior (SI; 10-N compression, 70-N tension) axes. Pairs were randomized to receive each augmentation and the same loading protocol applied.

RESULTS

Reverse CA transfer (3.71 ± 1.3 mm, standard error of the mean [SEM]; P = .03) and intramedullary graft (3.41 ± 1.1 mm; P = .03) decreased AP translation compared with CC reconstruction alone. The SI displacement did not differ. Equivalence tests suggest no difference between augmentations in AP or SI restraint.

CONCLUSION

Addition of either reverse CA transfer or intramedullary graft demonstrates improved AP restraint and provides similar SI stability compared with isolated CC reconstruction.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Reverse CA ligament transfer may be a reasonable alternative to a free tendon graft to augment AP restraint in AC reconstruction.

The evaluation and management of failed distal clavicle excision

Excision of the distal clavicle (DCE) is a commonly carried out surgical procedure used in the management of acromioclavicular joint pathology. Although successful outcomes after both open and arthroscopic distal clavicle excision occur in a high percentage of patients, treatment failures have been reported, creating a difficult clinical scenario for the treating orthopedic surgeon. The most common mode of failure after DCE is persistent pain and potential etiologies include under-resection, over-resection leading to joint instability, postoperative stiffness, heterotopic ossification, untreated concomitant shoulder pathology, and postoperative infection. Less common causes of failure include distal clavicle fracture, reossification or fusion across the acromioclavicular joint, suprascapular neuropathy, and psychiatric illness. Persistent symptoms and disability after distal clavicle excision require a careful assessment of these potential causes of treatment failure and the formulation of a treatment plan, which may include conservative care, revision surgery, or coracoclavicular ligament reconstruction. Although careful patient selection, preoperative planning, proper surgical technique, and appropriate rehabilitation during the index procedure can minimize the likelihood of poor outcome, this paper reviews the work-up and management of cases of failed distal clavicle excision.