The unstable os acromiale: a cause of pain in the young athlete

Use of Distal Clavicle Autograft in the Treatment of Os Acromiale Open Reduction Internal Fixation: A Surgical Case Report

CASE

We present a case of a 21-year-old male patient with a symptomatic os acromiale treated with open reduction internal fixation with distal clavicle autograft. The patient presented with right shoulder pain after a motor vehicle accident with tenderness over the acromion. Radiographs demonstrated an os meso-acromion with corresponding edema on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). The patient recovered uneventfully with radiographic fusion at 8 months of the os acromiale site.

CONCLUSION

This case used the excised distal clavicle as autograft. This technique has the added advantage of harvesting autograft from the same surgical approach and potential mechanical advantage of offloading the os acromiale site to promote healing.

Arthroscopic Fixation of Symptomatic Meso-Type Os Acromiale: Technical Note

Symptomatic Os acromiale can cause pain, impingement, and reduced range of movement. Disruption of the syndesmosis can result in significant pain and functional impairment; this may occur after trauma. Symptomatic Os acromiale is treated by either excision or fixation. Fixation via open technique is the mainstay of surgical intervention; however, recently, arthroscopic methods were used. In this technical note, we discuss the modification for all arthroscopic Os acromiale fixation; the fixation screws are introduced in anteroposterior fashion, employing the advances in orthopaedic fixation devices. Arthroscopic fixation is not widely adopted, possibly due to availability of implants and perceived difficult learning curve. We report this technique and demonstrate reproducibility with excellent results.

Os acromiale: prevalence and associated patient-related factors-a population-based study of three thousand and fifty participants

Purpose

The presence of os acromiale is of clinical relevance before performing shoulder surgery but ethnic differences and little information regarding associated factors seem to be present. Population-based studies to clarify these topics are essential so the purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence, anatomy, and associations of os acromiale in a general adult population.

Methods

Both shoulders of 3050 participants from the population-based Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP) were assessed on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Associations with the os acromiale were calculated for sex, age, body height, body weight, and heavy mechanical oscillations on the upper extremity.

Results

In total, 1.9% (58/3050) had an os acromiale, while 21 were unilateral left, 23 were unilateral right, and 14 were bilateral. Sixty-eight meso-acromions, three pre-acromions, and one meta-acromion were detected. Os acromiale were more frequent in men (right side: p = 0.037, left side: p = 0.005). Overall, no differences in sides (p = 0.808), to participants’ age (right: p = 0.993, left: p = 0.499), body height (right side: p = 0.241, left side: p = 0.154), and the exposure to heavy mechanical oscillations on the upper extremity (right: p = 0.054, left: p = 0.117) were detected.

Conclusion

Our results support the genetic theory for the aetiology of the os acromiale due to the lower prevalence of the os acromiale in north-eastern Germany compared to the worldwide prevalence (1.9 to 7%) and the lacking association to lifestyle, age, gender, or sides. Additionally, it is important to be aware of possible os acromiale before surgery.