The acromioclavicular (AC) joint is a shoulder joint where the collarbone or the clavicle connects with the shoulder blade or the scapula. The part of the clavicle that connects with the scapula is known as the acromion and thus is called the AC joint. This is the opposite of the glenohumeral joint or the ball and socket joint.
Some of the common issues with AC joints are arthritis, separations, and fractures. Arthritis is a condition where the joint loses cartilage. As in other body joints with arthritis, here too pain and swelling occur mainly during activities.
With time, the joint starts wearing out, resulting in swelling and spurs formation across it. These spurs occur because of arthritis and are not the only cause of the pain.
Many surgical methods can be utilized for AC joint repair.
Open surgery
Here, an incision is made in the AC joint that exposes the affected ligaments and the bones. Then the damaged ligaments are repaired with sutures and other such fixing devices. In some cases, grafts taken from the tissue of the patient or a donor are utilized for reinforcing the AC joint injury repair. The stabilization of the clavicle is carried out by making use of plates and sutures or any kind of special device, such as the hook plate.
Arthroscopic surgery
In this surgery, small-sized incisions are done for inserting an arthroscope and instruments that will be used in the surgery. Through a monitor, the surgeon will observe the joint and make use of the instruments for repairing the ligaments. This technique is minimally invasive and recovery time is fast. Similar to open surgery, many fixation techniques are used for the stabilization of the clavicle.
Weaver Dunn process
This method includes relocation of the coracoacromial ligament to the distal clavicle for reconstruction of the CC ligaments. The process is improved with extra fixing devices for more stability.
Tightrope method
The TightRope technique is a kind of surgical method that is used for treatment of acromioclavicular joint injury repair and other such shoulder instability problems. In this method a device having strong suture material with two buttons on each end for stabilizing and realigning the AC joint.The procedure requires minimum invasion and offers sturdy fixation.
No matter which surgical method is used, the main advantages are repairing the damage, restoration of stability, and enhancing joint function. Most patients attain benefits from these surgeries.
After the surgical repair, the wound is covered using shower-proof dressings, and these dressings should not be disturbed for about 14 days. If, in any case, these dressings are removed, they must be replaced with new dressings or any waterproof plasters. Before getting discharged from the hospital, a physical therapy doctor offers instructions on how to take care of the shoulder.
It is often recommended to wear a sling for about 4 weeks and occasionally perform shoulder movements by staying within limits. After about 8 weeks, strengthening exercises can be started and heavy use of arms, lifting heavy objects, and other such activities should be avoided for about three months. If a patient is in good health, the recovery time is about 6 months, and for those with underlying issues, it could be more.
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