Description
Objectives: Acromio clavicular joint (ACJ) dislocation is a frequently encountered pathology in traumatology, and its management remains controversial. In
fact, it has been transformed by the advent of arthroscopy and by technical advances in recent years.
Our aim was to evaluate the functional and radiological results of arthroscopic treatment of ACJ dislocation.
Methods: We conducted a monocentric retrospective descriptive study including patients who had undergone arthroscopic treatment for acute or chronic
ACJ separation, with a minimum follow-up of 12 months.
For acute ACJ dislocation, we performed reduction and endoboutton fixation via a coracoclavicular tunnel. For chronic dislocations, we performed a
reconstruction using a graft passing through 2 clavicular tunnels, crossing the coracoide.
We assessed functional results at final follow-up in terms of shoulder pain, mobility and function, using the Constant score.
Radiological results were assessed for reduction quality and coracoclavicular distance postoperatively and at final follow-up, to detect any loss of reduction.
Complications studied included coracoid fracture, reduction failure, loss of reduction and infection.
Results: Our series included 25 patients operated on arthroscopically for ACJ dislocation (11 acute and 14 chronic).
We noted good functional results at final follow-up, with patients recovering full mobility without residual pain, and an average constant score of 96 (92-100).
19 patients had a reduction comparable to the normal side, and 6 patients had a subluxation with a dislocation of less than 50% of the clavicle thickness.
Of the 25 patients who returned to work, 9 were amateur athletes, and all returned to their pre-injury level of activity.
The major complication in our population was loss of reduction, which was observed in 4 patients (16%). These patients revealed mild pain during sleep and
slight impairment of recreational activity. However, these patients did not require revision surgery.
No coracoid fractures or surgical site infections were noted in our series.
