Acromioclavicular Joint Excision for Osteolysis

Jameson Lau1, Saurabh Mehta2 & Lennard Funk3
1University of Manchester, UK
2Wrightington Hospital, UK
3HCA Hospitals, Wrightington Hospital, University of Salford, UK

Introduction: Acromioclavicular (AC) joint osteolysis is not common, but no studies previously have determined the efficacy of current treatment.

To retrospectively review the outcomes of AC joint excision in patients resistant to non-operative measures.

Methods: 16 patients underwent AC joint excision over a 2 year period, with all surgeries being conducted by a single senior surgeon. Patient outcomes were assessed using Constant and QuickDASH shoulder scores, as well as a patient-reported satisfaction rating on a visual analogue scale (VAS).

Results:
Two years following AC joint excision, a clinically relevant and statistically significant 35.0 point improvement in the Constant score was noted (p<0.05) . Similarly, a 23.74 point decrease in the QuickDASH symptom score was evident (p<0.05). A mean satisfaction rating was recorded as 8.8 out of 10. With 56% of patients being professional athletes, the average time taken for a full return to sport was 6.3 months. Other factors such as pre-operative steroid injections, age and time taken to surgery were not found to have a significant influence on surgical outcomes.

Conclusion: In conclusion, AC joint excision with the direct arthroscopic technique was found to be an effective management option for the treatment of AC joint osteolysis.


 

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