Clinical Results After Conservative Management for Grade III Acromioclavicular Joint Injuries: Does Eventual Surgery Affect Overall Outcomes?

Acromioclavicular joint dislocation Rockwood type III and V show no difference in functional outcome and 91% recovered well without the need for surgery

PURPOSE

Acromioclavicular (AC) joint dislocations are common injuries, but the indication for and timing of surgery is debated. The objective of the study was to evaluate the results after acute AC joint dislocations Rockwood type III and V treated nonsurgically with the option of delayed surgical intervention.

METHODS

This is a prospective cohort study with clinical, radiological and patient-reported outcome assessment at baseline, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year after acute AC joint dislocation. Patients aged 18-60 with acute AC joint dislocation and a baseline panorama (Zanca) radiograph with an increase in the coracoclavicular distance of >25% compared to the uninjured side were eligible for inclusion. All patients were treated nonsurgically with 3 months of home-based training and with the option of delayed surgical intervention. The primary outcome was the Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index (WOSI). Secondary outcomes were surgery yes/no and the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI).

RESULTS

Ninety-five patients were included. Fifty-seven patients were Rockwood type III and 38 patients were type V. There were no statistically significant differences in WOSI and SPADI between patients with type III and V injuries at any time point. Nine patients (9.5%) were referred for surgery; seven type III and two type V (ns).

CONCLUSION

Ninety-one percent of patients with acute AC joint dislocation Rockwood type III and V recovered without surgery and there were no differences in outcome scores between type III and V at any time point.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV.

Acromioclavicular joint dislocation and concomitant labral lesions: a systematic review

Acromioclavicular (AC) joint dislocations frequently co-occur with intra-articular glenohumeral pathologies. Few comprehensive studies have focused on labral tears specifically associated with AC joint trauma. This systematic review will address this gap. A comprehensive electronic search was conducted across PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar (pages 1-20) spanning from 1976 to May 19, 2023. Seven studies met the inclusion criteria for this systematic review, consisting of three retrospective studies and four case series. These studies collectively involved 1,044 patients, of whom 282 had concomitant labral lesions. The pooled prevalence of intra-articular labral injuries associated with acute AC joint dislocation was 27%. The prevalence of these labral lesions varied significantly between studies, ranging from 13.9% to 84.0% of patients, depending on the study and the grade of AC joint dislocation. Various types of labral tears were reported, with superior labrum anterior to posterior (SLAP) lesions being the most common. The prevalence of SLAP lesions ranged from 7.2% to 77.4%, with higher grades of AC joint dislocations often associated with a higher prevalence of SLAP tears. Moreover, grade V dislocations exhibited a complete correlation with SLAP tears. The studies yielded contradictory findings regarding older age and higher grades of AC joint dislocation as risk factors for concurrent labral lesions. This review underscores the frequent association between labral lesions and AC joint dislocations, particularly in cases of lower-grade injuries. Notably, SLAP lesions emerged as the predominant type of labral tear.

Management of acute grade IV and greater acromioclavicular dislocations: Open acromioclavicular brace versus arthroscopic double DogBone® endobutton

INTRODUCTION

Several surgical techniques exist to manage grade IV acute acromioclavicular dislocation (ACD). However, the conventional acromioclavicular brace technique (ACB) has never been compared to the arthroscopic DogBone® (DB) double endobutton technique. The aim of this work was to compare the functional and radiological results of DB stabilization with those of ACB.

HYPOTHESIS

DB stabilization provides similar functional results with a low rate of radiological recurrences compared to ACB.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This is a case-control study comparing 17 cases of ACD operated by DB (DB group) between January 2016 and January 2021 with 31 cases of ACD operated by ACB (ACB group) between January 2008 and January 2016. The primary outcome was the difference in the D/A ratio (reflecting vertical displacement) measured on an anteroposterior acromioclavicular (AC) X-ray compared between the 2 groups at one-year after surgery. The secondary outcome was a clinical evaluation at one-year using the Constant score and clinical AC instability.

RESULTS

At revision, the mean D/A ratio in the DB and ACB groups was 0.4±0.5 [-0.4-1.6] and 1.6±0.3 [0.8-3.1] respectively (p>0.05). Two patients (11.7%) in the DB group had implant migration with radiological recurrence while 14 patients (33%) had radiological recurrence in the ACB group (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

The DB technique limits the radiographic recurrence of acute ACD with an equivalent functional result at 1-year postoperatively compared to the conventional ACB technique, which implicitly requires a second operation for hardware removal. The DB technique has become the technique of choice in first-line treatment of acute grade IV ACD.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III; retrospective case-control series.

Arthroscopic Repair and Reconstruction of Coracoclavicular Ligament

Acromioclavicular joint separations are common shoulder injuries that require prompt recognition, diagnosis, and treatment. Deciding on a treatment algorithm relies on a detailed knowledge of anatomy and a thorough understanding of the specific functional demands of the patient in question. When a repair or reconstruction is indicated, arthroscopic assistance can be a helpful tool to ensure a safe, anatomic reconstruction that minimizes morbidity and maximizes the potential return to high-level function.

Management of Acromioclavicular Joint Injuries: A Historic Account

There has been a rapid evolution in best practice management of acromioclavicular (AC) joint injuries. AP, Zanca, scapular Y, and dynamic axillary radiographic views provide optimal visualization of the joint and may assess for the presence of horizontal AC instability. Severity of AC joint pathology is classified according to the 6-tier Rockwood scoring system. Over 160 surgical techniques have been described for AC joint repair and reconstruction in the last decade; as a result, determining the optimal treatment algorithm has become increasingly challenging secondary to the lack of consistently excellent clinical outcomes.

Diagnosis and Nonoperative Treatment of Acromioclavicular Joint Injuries in Athletes and Guide for Return to Play

Injury to the acromioclavicular (AC) joint accounts for approximately 40% to 50% of all shoulder injuries. In contact sports, the prevalence of AC joint injury increases. This injury is frequently encountered and treated by fellowship-trained as well as general orthopedic surgeons. As such, it is important to understand the diagnostic and treatment pathways for AC joint disruption. The treatment pathways in athletes may be different from those in the general population. This article will focus on the diagnosis and nonoperative treatment of AC joint injuries in athletes. We will also comment on return-to-play guidelines after this nonoperative treatment.

Management of Acromioclavicular Injuries - Current Concepts

Introduction

Treatment of a patient with acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) injury remains challenging for orthopedic surgeons. To date, there is debate over the optimal management of ACJ injuries. This review provides an overview of assessment, treatment, and future perspectives for the treatment of and research into ACJ.

Material and Methods

A scoping literature review was performed. The search was built including the following terms: acromioclavicular joint injuries or dislocation, and pathophysiology, etiology, anatomy, treatment, and trauma mechanism. The papers with evidence levels 1-3 were included in the current narrative review.

Results

A total of 2242 potential relevant studies were identified in the searches. After removal of duplicates, 432 studies were screened on their titles and abstracts, resulting in 35 studies being included in the review, based on the eligibility criteria.

Conclusion

The management of acute and chronic ACJ injuries is not clarified in the current literature. However, there is currently insufficient high-level evidence for the overall treatment options for ACJ injuries. If surgical intervention is decided upon in consultation with the patient, the complications may not outweigh the benefits. The multitude of existing techniques is indicative of the uncertainty surrounding this issue, and no gold standard has yet been established for treatment methods. An ideal classification would include not only vertical and horizontal instability, but also the severity of kinematic alterations of the shoulder complex. This indicates the need for a new and improved diagnostic tool for the classification of ACJ injuries.

Reliability of the ISAKOS Modification to Subclassify Rockwood Type III Acromioclavicular Joint Injuries

Background

To improve clinical management, the International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine (ISAKOS) developed a specific subclassification of Rockwood type III acromioclavicular (AC) injuries: IIIA (no overriding distal clavicle) and IIIB (overriding distal clavicle).

Purpose/Hypothesis

The study aimed to determine the inter- and intraobserver reliability of the radiographic classification proposed by ISAKOS for AC injuries. It was hypothesized that the strength of agreement for the ISAKOS modification will be substantial to almost perfect.

Study Design

Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 3.

Methods

We evaluated 40 radiographs of all types of AC joint injuries from patients at a single institution. The images were distributed to 6 shoulder and elbow fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeons, along with standardized assessment questionnaires. The evaluators measured the bilateral coracoclavicular distance and the coracoclavicular ratio and classified the severity of the injuries according to the modified ISAKOS Rockwood classification. Four of the surgeons repeated the evaluation 6 weeks later to calculate intraobserver agreement. The kappa (κ) statistic was calculated for categorical inter- and intraobserver reliability. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) estimates were calculated for the reliability of the coracoclavicular distance measurement. A 2-tailed test was performed to assess statistical significance.

Results

Overall interobserver agreement was substantial (κ = 0.637; 95% CI, 0.595-0.680) among the 6 evaluators, and intraobserver agreement was also substantial among the 4 evaluators (κ = 0.616; 95% CI, 0.549-0.638). The interobserver agreement for evaluating types IIIA and IIIB was fair (κ = 0.215; 95% CI, 0.135-0.295) and moderate (κ = 0.473; 95% CI, 0.393-0.553), respectively. The agreement on the coracoclavicular distance measurements was excellent among the 6 evaluators on both the affected side (ICC, 0.982; 95% CI, 0.970-0.990) and the unaffected side (ICC, 0.930; 95% CI, 0.894-0.958).

Conclusion

Substantial agreement was found when categorizing AC joint injuries using the ISAKOS modification of the Rockwood classification, with excellent reliability demonstrated for the quantitative assessment of vertical displacement of the clavicle. Visual examination was unreliable in differentiating type IIIA injuries from type IIIB injuries.

Acromioclavicular joint injuries revisited: Pathoanatomy, pathomechanics, and clinical presentation

Multiple papers have described aspects of treatment of acromioclavicular (AC) joint injuries. Most have emphasized aspects of surgical treatment, and some papers have addressed non-operative treatment. Few papers have highlighted the specific pathoanatomy of an AC joint injury or have described methods of evaluating the 3-dimensional pathomechanics resulting from the pathoanatomical injury. This paper is based on 3 observations: (1) AC joint injuries exist and present on a spectrum of pathoanatomy; (2) The effect of the pathoanatomy on normal AC joint mechanics to produce pathomechanics is dependent on the extent of the pathoanatomy; and (3) Treatment protocols should be developed to address the specific pathoanatomy to optimize the mechanics. A comprehensive clinical approach emphasizing the evaluation of the extent of the anatomic injury and understanding its mechanical consequences regarding shoulder and arm function is a key in the development of guidelines for developing operative or non-operative treatment protocols and for establishing outcomes of the treatment protocols.

No difference in clinical outcome at 2-year follow-up in patients with type III and V acromioclavicular joint dislocation treated with hook plate or physiotherapy: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

The need for operative treatment of acute acromioclavicular (AC) joint dislocation is unclear. The purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to compare the outcomes after operative treatment with a hook plate with the outcomes after nonoperative treatment of acute Rockwood type III and type V AC joint dislocations separately.

METHODS

The inclusion criteria were patients aged 18-65 years with an acute type III or type V AC joint dislocation with the availability to start treatment within 3 weeks after trauma. All patients received the same standardized outpatient rehabilitation protocol and were followed up for 24 months. Assessments were based on radiographs, clinical examination findings, and questionnaires. The primary outcome was the Constant score (CS). The secondary outcomes were as follows: Subjective Shoulder Value (SSV), QuickDASH score (abbreviated version of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire), shoulder pain at rest and during movement rated using a visual analog scale, EQ-5D (European Quality of Life 5 Dimensions) score, patient satisfaction, cosmesis, complications, and adverse events. The 4 groups were compared using 1-way analysis of variance and intention to treat.

RESULTS

The included patients (N = 124) (mean age, 40 years [range, 18-64 years]; 91% male patients) were randomized, stratified by type, to nonoperative treatment (type III, n = 33; type V, n = 30) or operative treatment with a hook plate (type III, n = 30; type V, n = 31) at a single center. Three patients randomized to physiotherapy dropped out before any follow-up measures, leaving 121 patients in the study. Complete clinical follow-up data were obtained from 118 patients at 24 months. At 3 months, patients in both nonoperatively treated groups had a significantly better mean CS, SSV, and QuickDASH score and had less pain at rest and during movement compared with patients treated operatively. At 6, 12, and 24 months, there were no significant differences in the CS, SSV, QuickDASH score, pain, or EQ-5D score between the groups regardless of intervention. At 24 months, the mean CS was 88 for nonoperatively treated type III patients vs. 91 for operatively treated type III patients and was 90 vs. 91 for type V patients (P = .477). At final follow-up, patients had regained 97% of the mean CS comparing the uninjured and injured shoulders and 86% of the patients rated the result as excellent or good. Eleven patients assigned to nonoperative treatment (18%, 6 type III and 5 type V) underwent surgery within 19 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Both the nonoperative and operative treatment groups had very good restoration of shoulder function and patient satisfaction at 24 months, and operative treatment did not lead to better outcomes compared with nonoperative treatment. In conclusion, our study does not support surgery with a hook plate in patients with acute Rockwood type III or type V AC joint dislocations.

Nonoperative Management of Traumatic Acromioclavicular Joint Injury: A Clinical Commentary with Clinical Practice Considerations

Traumatic injuries of the acromioclavicular joint result in pain and potentially long-term alterations in scapulohumeral rhythm that occurs due to disruption of the clavicular strut function which is integral to scapular kinematics. Nonoperative treatment remains a valid option in most acromioclavicular joint injuries with the potential of minimizing pain and restoring scapulohumeral rhythm. However, few studies have provided nonoperative treatment details. Therefore, the purpose of this clinical commentary is to discuss the rationale, indications, and techniques of nonoperative treatment and present an organized approach for evaluating and managing such patients based on the best available evidence. Attention will be focused on identifying the treatment methods employed and the results/outcomes of such treatments.

Level of Evidence

5.

Grade III Acromioclavicular Separations Treated With Suspensory Fixation Techniques: A Systematic Review of Level I Through IV Studies

Purpose

To perform a systematic review comparing clinical outcomes, radiographic outcomes, and complication rates after acute (surgery ≤6 weeks from injury) versus chronic (surgery >6 weeks from injury) acromioclavicular joint reconstructions for grade III injuries using modern suspensory fixation techniques.

Methods

We performed a systematic review of the literature examining acute versus chronic surgical treatment of Rockwood grade III acromioclavicular joint separations using the Cochrane registry, MEDLINE database, and Embase database over the past 10 years according to PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses) guidelines. The inclusion criteria included techniques using suspensory fixation, a minimum study size of 3 patients, a minimum follow-up period of 6 months, human studies, and English-language studies. The methodology of each study was evaluated using the Methodological Index for Non-randomized Studies (MINORS) tool for nonrandomized studies and the revised Cochrane risk-of-bias (RoB 2) tool for randomized controlled trials.

Results

The systematic review search yielded 20 studies with a total of 253 patients. There were 2 prospective randomized controlled trials, but most of the included studies were retrospective. On comparison of acute surgery (≤6 weeks) and chronic surgery (>6 weeks), individual studies reported a range of Constant scores of 84.4 to 98.2 and 80.8 to 94.1, respectively. The ranges of radiographic coracoclavicular distances reported at final follow-up also favored acute reconstructions, which showed improved reduction (9.2-15.7 mm and 11.7-18.6 mm, respectively). The reported complication rates ranged from 7% to 67% for acute reconstructions and from 0% to 30% for chronic reconstructions.

Conclusions

The ranges in the Constant score may favor acute reconstructions, but because of the heterogeneity in the surgical techniques in the literature, no definitive recommendations can be made regarding optimal timing.

Level of Evidence

Level IV, systematic review of Level I through IV studies.

Mid-Term Outcomes of Arthroscopically-Assisted Anatomic Coracoclavicular Ligament Reconstruction Using Tendon Allograft for High-Grade Acromioclavicular Joint Dislocations

PURPOSE

The purposes of this study were to assess clinical and radiographic outcomes of arthroscopically-assisted, anatomic coracoclavicular ligament reconstruction using tendon allograft (AA-ACCR) for the treatment of Rockwood type III-V injuries at minimum 2-year follow-up and to perform subgroup analyses of clinical and radiographic outcomes for acute versus chronic and type III versus type IV-V injuries.

METHODS

In this retrospective study of prospectively collected data, patients who underwent primary AA-ACCR for the treatment of type III-V dislocations and had minimum 2-year follow-up were included. Preoperative and postoperative patient-reported outcome scores (PROs) were collected, including American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score, Single Numeric Assessment Evaluation score, Short Form-12 Physical Component Summary, Quick Disabilities of the Arm Shoulder and Hand score, and patient satisfaction. Preoperative and postoperative coracoclavicular distance (CCD) was obtained. PROs and CCD were reported for the total cohort and for the subgroups. Complication and revision rates were demonstrated.

RESULTS

In total, 102 patients (10 women, 92 men) with a mean age of 45.0 years (range, 18-73 years) were included. There were 13 complications (12.7%) resulting in revision surgery. After exclusion of revised patients, PROs were available for 69 (77.5%). At mean follow-up of 4.7 years (range, 2.0-12.8 years), all PROs improved significantly (P < .001). Median patient satisfaction was 9.0 (interquartile range, 8.0-10.0). Median preoperative to postoperative CCD decreased significantly (P < .001). Subgroup analyses revealed significant improvements in all PROs and CCD from preoperative to postoperative for both acute and chronic, and type III and type IV-V dislocations (P < .05) with no significant differences in postoperative PROs and satisfaction between (P > .05).

CONCLUSION

AA-ACCR for high-grade acromioclavicular joint injuries resulted in high postoperative PROs and patient satisfaction with significant improvements from before to after surgery in those who did not undergo revision surgery. Furthermore, subgroup analyses revealed that acute and chronic, and type III and type IV-V injuries benefitted similarly from AA-ACCR.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV; therapeutic case series.

Conversion to anatomic coracoclavicular ligament reconstruction (ACCR) shows similar clinical outcomes compared to successful non-operative treatment in chronic primary type III to V acromioclavicular joint injuries

PURPOSE

To compare the clinical outcomes of patients who underwent successful nonoperative treatment for type III-V acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) injuries to those who eventually required conversion to anatomic coracoclavicular ligament reconstruction (ACCR) at a minimum 5-year follow-up.

METHODS

Patients with primary, chronic type III-V ACJ injuries who either underwent successful conservative treatment or conversion to ACCR after failing a trail of conservative management between 2003 and 2014 with a minimum 5-year follow-up were included in the study. Clinical outcome measures comprised the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) and Simple Shoulder Test (SST) score, collected preoperatively and at final visit for the ACCR group. Outcome scores for patients with successful conservative treatment were only collected at final visit. A Self- Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE) score was obtained at terminal follow-up for both groups.

RESULTS

Twenty-two patients (mean age: 40.1 ± 15.6 years) with successful nonoperative treatment and twenty-one patients (mean age: 43.6 ± 12.0 years) who required conversion to ACCR were included in the study. At final follow-up, patients with successful non-operative treatment achieved similar ASES (93.0±12.0NonOP vs. 86.1±16.8ACCR), SST (11.2±1.4NonOP vs. 10.7±2.0ACCR) and SANE scores (80.9±19.7NonOPvs. 90.5±14.7ACCR) compared to those who were converted to ACCR. Additionally, patients who underwent conversion to ACCR showed significant improvement in ASES (49.8±18.1pre vs. 86.1±16.8post; Δ36.3±19.7) and SST scores (6.5±3.2prevs. 10.7±2.0post; Δ4.2±4.0) from pre- to postoperative.

CONCLUSION

At a minimum 5-year follow-up, patients with successful non-operative treatment for type III-V ACJ injuries achieved similar clinical outcomes compared to those who were converted to ACCR. In patients with chronic severe ACJ dislocation a trial of conservative treatment may be attempted, astime from injuryto eventual conversion to ACCR had no significant influence on postoperative clinical outcomes.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV.

Rockwood Grade-III Acromioclavicular Joint Separation: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Treatment Options

Background:

The treatment of Rockwood Grade-III acromioclavicular (AC) joint separation has been widely disputed since the introduction of the classification system. The present literature does not reach consensus on whether operative or nonoperative management is more advantageous, nor does it effectively distinguish between operative measures. We hypothesized that nonoperative treatment of Rockwood Grade-III AC joint separation would be more cost-effective when compared with surgical options.

Methods:

We created a decision-tree model outlining the treatment of Rockwood Grade-III separations using nonoperative management or hook-plate, suture-button, or allograft fixation. After nonoperative intervention, the possible outcomes predicted by the model were uneventful healing, delayed operative management, a second round of sling use and physical therapy, or no reduction and no action; and after operative intervention, the possible outcomes were uneventful healing, loss of reduction and revision, and depending on the implant, loss of reduction and no action, or removal of the implant. A systematic review was conducted, and probabilities of each model state were averaged. A cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted both through rollback analysis yielding net monetary benefit and through incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs). Thresholds of $50,000/quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) and $100,000/QALY were used for ICER analysis. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis was utilized to determine whether differential probabilities could impact the model.

Results:

Forty-five papers were selected from a potential 768 papers identified through our literature review. Nonoperative treatment was used as our reference case and showed dominance over all 3 of the operative measures at both the $50,000 and $100,000 ICER thresholds. Nonoperative treatment also showed the greatest net monetary benefit. Nonoperative management yielded the lowest total cost ($6,060) and greatest utility (0.95 QALY). Sensitivity analysis showed that allograft fixation became the favored technique at a willingness-to-pay threshold of $50,000 if the rate of failure of nonoperative treatment rose to 14.6%. Similarly, at the $100,000 threshold, allograft became dominant if the probability of failure of nonoperative treatment rose to 22.8%.

Conclusions:

The cost-effectiveness of nonoperative treatment is fueled by its notably lower costs and overall high rates of success in Grade-III separations. It is important to note that, in our analysis, the societal cost (measured in lost productivity) of nonoperative treatment neared that of surgical treatment, but the cost from the health-care system perspective was minimal. Physicians should bear in mind the sensitivity of these conclusions and should consider cost-effectiveness analyses in their decision-making guidelines.

Level of Evidence:

Economic and Decision Analysis Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Arthroscopic-Assisted Coracoclavicular Ligament Reconstruction: Clinical Outcomes and Return to Activity at Mean 6-Year Follow-Up

PURPOSE

To report clinical and functional outcomes including return to preinjury activity level following arthroscopic-assisted coracoclavicular (CC) ligament reconstruction (AA-CCR) and to determine associations between return to preinjury activity level, radiographic outcomes, and patient-reported outcomes following AA-CCR.

METHODS

A institutional registry review of all AA-CCR using free tendon grafts from 2007 to 2016 was performed. Clinical assessment included Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE) score and return to preinjury activity level at final follow-up. Treatment failure was defined as (1) revision acromioclavicular stabilization surgery, (2) unable to return to preinjury activity level, or (3) radiographic loss of reduction (RLOR, >25% CC distance compared with contralateral side). SANE scores, return to activity, and RLOR were compared between patients within each category of treatment failure, by grade of injury, and whether concomitant pathology was treated.

RESULTS

There were 88 patients (89.8% male) with mean age of 39.6 years and minimum 2-year clinical follow-up (mean 6.1 years). Most injuries were Rockwood grade V (63.6%). Mean postoperative SANE score was 86.3 ± 17.5. Treatment failure occurred in 17.1%: 8.0% were unable to return to activity, 5.7% had RLOR, and 3.4% underwent revision surgery due to traumatic reinjury. SANE score was lower among patients who were unable to return to activity compared with those with RLOR and compared with nonfailures (P = .0002). There were no differences in revision surgery rates, return to activity, or SANE scores according to Rockwood grade or if concomitant pathology was treated.

CONCLUSIONS

AA-CCR with free tendon grafts resulted in good clinical outcomes and a high rate of return to preinjury activity level. RLOR did not correlate with return to preinjury activity level. Concomitant pathology that required treatment did not adversely affect outcomes. Return to preinjury activity level may be a more clinically relevant outcome measure than radiographic maintenance of acromioclavicular joint reduction.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV (Case Series).

High Prevalence of Superior Labral Anterior-Posterior Tears Associated With Acute Acromioclavicular Joint Separation of All Injury Grades

Background

Despite the relatively high number of cases of acromioclavicular joint (AC) separation in the athletic population, optimal clinical outcomes are not achieved in every case. Limited data exist regarding the prevalence of intra-articular glenohumeral pathologies (IAPs) associated with acute AC separation of all injury grades.

Purpose

To determine the prevalence of IAPs associated with AC separation, regardless of severity.

Study Design

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods

A total of 62 patients (mean age, 37.6 years) with acute AC separation were included in this study; 41 were nonoverhead recreational athletes. All patients underwent magnetic resonance arthrography (MRA) to evaluate for IAPs. Arthroscopic data from patients undergoing surgical treatment were correlated with MRA results.

Results

Patients sustained acute AC separation of Rockwood grade 1 (16.1%), grade 2 (46.8%), grade 3 (25.8%), and grade 4 (11.3%). A concomitant IAP was present in 48 of 62 (77.4%) patients and included superior labral anterior-posterior tears (72.6%), anterior labral tears (24.2%), posterior labral tears (4.8%), supraspinatus tears (3.2%), and inferior glenohumeral ligament ruptures (1.6%). There were 18 (29.0%) patients who had a concomitant pathology in >1 intra-articular structure (combined IAPs). Additionally, 71.8% of patients with grade 1 and 2 AC separation had associated IAPs, and 23.1% had combined IAPs. Furthermore, in patients younger than 40 years, 64.0% of those with grade 1 to 3 AC separation demonstrated associated labral pathologies. There was no difference when comparing age or severity of AC separation and the prevalence of concomitant labral tears (P = .36 and .22, respectively).

Conclusion

There was a high prevalence of IAPs among patients undergoing MRA after AC separation. While an IAP has been described in association with high-grade AC separation previously, the high prevalence of IAPs in low-grade separation in our study was unexpected and suggests that a thorough evaluation and clinical follow-up for patients with all grades of AC separation may be beneficial.

Systematic review of the treatment of acromioclavicular joint disruption comparing number of tunnels and graft type

BACKGROUND

The management of high-grade acromioclavicular separations remains unclear. The surgical interventions have shifted to more anatomic, less invasive techniques. The purpose of this study was to systematically review the outcomes and complications of anatomic coracoclavicular ligament reconstruction using a tendon graft.

METHODS

Twenty-one studies (n = 460 patients) met the criteria for inclusion. A double clavicle tunnel tendon graft construct was used in 348 patients (75.7%), whereas a single clavicle tunnel technique was used in 112 patients (24.3%). No significant difference in loss of reduction was found between the 2 techniques. Of 460 patients, 96 (20.9%) demonstrated some form of radiographic displacement at the final follow-up. The overall complication rate was 21.3% (98 of 460), and a higher complication rate was found in the double clavicle tunnel technique (P < .001). The overall reoperation rate was 7.6% (37 of 460). The most common reason for reoperation was clavicle fracture (8 of 37). There was a statistically significant increase in reoperation when allograft was used (P = .003).

CONCLUSION

The results of this study suggest that despite newer techniques, approximately 20% of patients develop loss of reduction and/or experience a surgical complication. Attempts to minimize trauma to the clavicle and use autograft tendon may reduce the risk of reoperation.

Optimal Management of Acromioclavicular Dislocation: Current Perspectives

Injuries to the acromioclavicular (AC) joint are common and mostly involve younger, male individuals. Whereas the majority of AC joint dislocations can be treated nonoperatively with a trial of immobilization, pain medication, cryotherapy, and physiotherapy, there are patients that do not respond well to conservative management and may require surgical treatment. Identifying and treating these patients according to the type and chronicity of AC joint dislocation is paramount. To date, a myriad of surgical techniques have been proposed to address unstable AC joint dislocations and are indicative of the uncertainty that exists in optimal management of these injuries. Historically research has focused on the restoration of the coracoclavicular ligament complex. However, recently the importance of the acromioclavicular capsule and ligaments has been emphasized. This review aims to provide the reader with an overview of current treatment strategies and research, as well as future perspectives.

Acromioclavicular Joint Injuries: Evidence-based Treatment

Injuries to the acromioclavicular (AC) joint are common in the athletic patient population. Most AC joint injuries occur in young males, typically from a direct fall onto the superior aspect of the shoulder when the arm is adducted. Numerous publications describing joint anatomy and biomechanics, surgical techniques for reconstruction, and rehabilitation protocols are available to guide treatment strategies for injuries to the AC joint. Treatment is typically nonsurgical for type I and II injuries and surgical for type IV and VI injuries. Controversy surrounds the indications for nonsurgical versus surgical treatment of type III and V injuries. Multiple surgical techniques have been described, including coracoclavicular (CC) screw fixation, coracoacromial ligament transfer, and numerous methods of CC ligament reconstruction. Anatomic CC ligament reconstruction can be performed either open or arthroscopically, with and without graft augmentation. This article will discuss clinically relevant anatomy and biomechanical properties of the AC joint and will review decision-making principles and treatment options for common AC joint injuries. An updated summary of clinical outcomes after AC joint treatment will also be presented.

Analysis of the bony geometry of the acromio-clavicular joint

Background

The primary goal of this study was to analyse the anatomic configuration of the acromio-clavicular joint in a healthy population to be able to develop a classification in a second step. On the basis of the primary findings a secondary goal was to find potential clinical indications in refer to AC-joint dislocation and lateral clavicle fractures.

Methods

The upper thoracic aperture including both shoulder joints as well as both sterno-clavicular joints was retrospectively reformatted in a bone kernel in axial orientation with 0.6 mm slice thickness out of existing multiple trauma or post mortem computed tomography (CT) scans. The DICOM data was converted into the STL file format using a three dimensional (3D) reconstruction software (Smartbrush, Brainlab, Feldkirchen, Germany). The data analysis was performed using a 3D—Computer Aided Detection (CAD) Software (BioCAD, Technical University Munich, Germany). For the analysis, the angle between the cranial surface of the acromion and the tangent to its articular surface was evaluated. Accordingly, the angle between the cranial surface of the clavicle and the tangent to its articular surface was assessed.

Results

Overall CT-datasets of 80 healthy patients (40 males, 40 females, mean age 45 ± 8 years) were enrolled and evaluated regarding the configuration of the AC-joint. In this context, three statistically significant (p < 0.001) different configurations of the AC-joint in terms of overhanging acromion, neutral type, overhanging clavicle were identified. The “overhanging acromion” type of AC-joint configuration turned out to be the most common type (46.2%) followed by the “neutral type” (38.4%) and finally the “overhanging clavicle type” (15.4%).

Conclusions

We assume that the shown differences of the AC joint congruency might play an important role in the development of different shoulder injuries resulting from the similar trauma mechanism. However, the proof of these assumptions will be the focus of future studies.

Nonoperative treatment of five common shoulder injuries: A critical analysis

Economic pressure highlights the critical need for appropriate diagnosis and treatment of various shoulder pathologies since under-diagnosis and under-treatment can result in increased costs to society in the form of disability and lost production. On the other hand, aggressive over-treatment can further inflate already burgeoning health-care costs and potentially harm the patient. Therefore, it is crucial to distinguish the indications between operative and nonoperative management, especially in common shoulder pathologies such as rotator cuff tears, anterior shoulder instability, biceps tendinitis, lesions to the acromioclavicular joint, and proximal humeral fractures. As a result, a detailed analysis of individual risk factors for potential failures should be performed and treatment should be based on individualized care with consideration given to each patient’s particular injury pattern, functional demands, and long-term goals.

The Evolving Treatment Patterns of NCAA Division I Football Players by Orthopaedic Team Physicians Over the Past Decade, 2008-2016

Background:

Previous studies have analyzed the treatment patterns used to manage injuries in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I football players.

Hypothesis:

Treatment patterns used to manage injuries in NCAA Division I football players will have changed over the study period.

Study Design:

Descriptive epidemiology study.

Level of Evidence:

Level 5.

Methods:

The head orthopaedic team physicians for all 128 NCAA Division I football teams were asked to complete a survey containing questions regarding experience as team physician, medical coverage of the team, reimbursement issues, and treatment preferences for some of the most common injuries occurring in football players. Responses from the current survey were compared with responses from the same survey sent to NCAA Division I team physicians in 2008.

Results:

Responses were received from 111 (111/119, 93%) NCAA Division I orthopaedic team physicians in 2008 and 115 (115/128, 90%) orthopaedic team physicians between April 2016 and April 2017. The proportion of team physicians who prefer a patellar tendon autograft for primary anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) increased from 67% in 2008 to 83% in 2016 (P < 0.001). The proportion of team physicians who perform anterior shoulder stabilization arthroscopically increased from 69% in 2008 to 93% in 2016 (P < 0.0001). Of team physicians who perform surgery for grade III posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injuries, the proportion who use the arthroscopic single-bundle technique increased from 49% in 2008 to 83% in 2016 (P < 0.0001). The proportion of team physicians who use Toradol injections prior to a game to help with nagging injuries decreased from 62% in 2008 to 26% in 2016 (P < 0.0001).

Conclusion:

Orthopaedic physicians changed their injury treatment preferences for NCAA Division I football players over the study period. In particular, physicians have changed their preferred techniques for ACLR, anterior shoulder stabilization, and PCL reconstruction. Physicians have also become more conservative with pregame Toradol injections.

Clinical Relevance:

These opinions may help guide treatment decisions and lead to better care of all athletes.

Concomitant glenohumeral pathologies associated with acute and chronic grade III and grade V acromioclavicular joint injuries

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to identify the risk of concomitant glenohumeral pathologies with acromioclavicular joint injuries grade III and V.

METHODS

Patients who underwent arthroscopically-assisted stabilization of acromioclavicular joint injuries grade III or grade V between 01/2007 and 12/2015 were identified in the patient databases of two surgical centres. Gender, age at index surgery, grade of acromioclavicular joint injury (Rockwood III or Rockwood V), and duration between injury and index surgery (classified as acute or chronic) were of interest. Concomitant glenohumeral pathologies were noted and their treatment was classified as debridement or reconstructive procedure.

RESULTS

A total of 376 patients (336 male, 40 female) were included. Mean age at time of arthroscopic acromioclavicular joint reconstruction surgery was 42.1 ± 14.0 years. Overall, 201 patients (53%) had one or more concomitant glenohumeral pathologies. Lesions of the biceps tendon complex and rotator cuff were the most common. Forty-five patients (12.0%) had concomitant glenohumeral pathologies that required an additional repair. The remaining 156 patients (41.5%) received a debridement of their concomitant pathologies. Rockwood grade V compared to Rockwood grade III (p = 0.013; odds ratio 1.7), and chronic compared to acute injury were significantly associated with having a concomitant glenohumeral pathology (p = 0.019; odds ratio 1.7). The probability of having a concomitant glenohumeral pathology was also significantly associated with increasing age (p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Concomitant glenohumeral pathologies were observed in 53% of surgically treated patients with an acute or chronic acromioclavicular joint injury of either grade III or V. Twenty-two percent of these patients with concomitant glenohumeral pathologies received an additional dedicated repair procedure. Although a significant difference in occurrence of concomitant glenohumeral pathologies was seen between Rockwood grades III and V, and between acute and chronic lesions, increasing age was identified as the most dominant predictor.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV, case series.

Arthroscopic Acromioclavicular Joint Reconstruction Using Knotless Coracoclavicular Fixation and Soft-Tissue Anatomic Coracoclavicular Ligament Reconstruction

Acromioclavicular joint injuries are one of the most common shoulder injuries, and there are a variety of treatment options. Recently, there have been newer arthroscopic techniques that have addressed coracoid and clavicle fracture risk by using a knotted suture-button fixation through a single, small bone tunnel with additional looped soft-tissue graft stabilization. Although clinical outcomes have been good to excellent, there have still been instances of knot and hardware irritation. The described technique builds on the latest advances and achieves an anatomic coracoclavicular (CC) reconstruction through a single knotless CC fixation device with additional soft-tissue allograft reconstruction of the CC ligaments. This technique minimizes the risks of coracoid and clavicle fractures and knot and hardware irritation while maintaining excellent stability.

Editorial Commentary: Is Posterior Distal Clavicle Beveling for Chronic Nonincarcerated Type IV Acromioclavicular Separation a Sufficient Treatment?

While low-grade acromioclavicular injuries can be managed nonoperatively, high-grade separations may result in persistent pain or functional decline and require surgical intervention. The authors of "Posterior Distal Clavicle Beveling for Chronic Nonincarcerated Type IV Acromioclavicular Separations: Surgical Technique and Early Clinical Outcomes" present a case series reporting convincing results concerning functional outcomes and early return-to-sport rates for this rather rare condition. While this technique seemed to work well in this small series of patients, in our opinion, this procedure should be reserved for use in exceptional cases only.

Functional Outcomes of Type V Acromioclavicular Injuries With Nonsurgical Treatment

INTRODUCTION

This study investigated nonsurgical management of type V acromioclavicular (AC) injuries to determine functional outcomes and to attempt to identify factors associated with positive results.

METHODS

In a retrospective chart review, patients with radiographic and clinical evidence of type V AC injuries per the Rockwood classification were included in the study. Patients treated nonsurgically for ≥6 months were considered eligible for analysis. Functional outcomes were assessed using Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) scores.

RESULTS

Twenty-two patients with a mean age of 42.2 ± 12.8 years were included in the study. The average coracoclavicular distance at the time of presentation was 26.3 mm (+199%). Mean DASH and ASES scores were 27.8 ± 17.7 and 62.8 ± 17.1, respectively, at an average of 34 months from the time of injury. Patients with normal DASH (≤10) and ASES (>92) scores were younger than those with abnormal scores. At final assessment, 77% of the patients were currently working, with nine patients performing manual labor.

CONCLUSION

Following nonsurgical management of type V AC injuries, most patients are able to return to work but have limited functional outcome scores. A small subset of patients with type V AC injuries can achieve normal functional outcomes with nonsurgical management.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV, Case Series.