A novel method of surgical management of Rockwood type III-V acromioclavicular joint injuries

Abstract

Aims and objectives: To assess the functional outcome of Rockwood type III-V acute acromioclavicular joint injuries. Background: Acromioclavicular joint injuries occur most commonly in active or athletic young adults. Treatment of acromioclavicular separations has been a subject of debate. In general, types I and II injuries are treated non-operatively in the acute setting and types III - VI injuries generally require surgical repair. A new method of surgical treatment using mersilene tape for ligament reconstruction and its outcome is described in present study. Materials and methods: A longitudinal study was conducted among ten patients with mean age of 37.25 years (range 30-45 years) with Rockwood Grade III-V Acromioclavicular joint injuries of less than 2 weeks duration were treated with reconstruction of acromioclavicular ligament and coracoclavicular ligament using mersilene tape from June 2011 to June 2013. The assessment of outcome was done in follow-up visits by anteroposterior radiographs and the clinical outcomes were assessed using Constant shoulder Score (CS) and cross-arm test. Results: Mean Constant Score was 93.1 in the operated shoulder and 95.9 in the normal shoulder (p = 0.06). The AC joint was clinically stable with satisfactory range of movements. Conclusions: Reconstruction of the acromioclavicular ligament and the coracoclavicular ligament using mersilene tape can be advocated for acute and displaced acromioclavicular joint injuries.

Keywords

• Acromioclavicular joint injuries
• Acromioclavicular ligament and Coracoclavicular ligament reconstruction
• mersilene tape