Double-loop suture repair for acute acromioclavicular joint disruption.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Sports Medicine
• Traumatology

Background:

• Surgical intervention is preferred for severe acromioclavicular joint disruptions (Types IV-VI, and Type III in specific populations).
• Optimal surgical techniques for these injuries remain a subject of ongoing research and debate.
• Existing methods often involve hardware, carrying potential risks and complications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel coracoclavicular functional stabilization technique for acute acromioclavicular joint separations.
• To avoid complications associated with surgical hardware.
• To restore the native anteroposterior and superior positioning of the clavicle.

Main Methods:

• A case series (Level of evidence, 4) involving 38 patients with acute acromioclavicular joint separation.
• Surgical reconstruction utilized a coracoclavicular loop stabilization technique with Ethibond sutures.
• Early passive shoulder motion was initiated on the second postoperative day.

Main Results:

• Thirty-four patients completed follow-up at a mean of 33.2 months.
• High functional outcomes were observed, with a mean Constant-Murley score of 93.5.
• Minor complications included superficial infection (1) and persistent tenderness (1); periarticular ossification occurred in 17.6% without impacting outcomes.

Conclusions:

• The coracoclavicular loop technique provides a nearly anatomical reconstruction for acromioclavicular joint separations.
• This hardware-free method effectively avoids hardware-related complications.
• The technique demonstrates a low recurrence rate and represents an attractive alternative for managing acute acromioclavicular joint injuries.