Complete acromioclavicular dislocations: treatment with a Dacron ligament

A series of 20 patients was treated for a complete acromioclavicular dislocation (Tossy III). Reduction of the clavicle is maintained by a Dacron ligament, which provides dynamic fixation. The mean follow-up period was 3.9 years. For 19 patients the results were good or excellent; in one case the result was poor. Advantages of the method described are ease of the procedure, absence of pins and a 1-week period of immobilization. An important result is the short sick leave with an average of 3.3 weeks, which is favourable compared with other operative and non-operative methods. The recent tendency to treat complete acromioclavicular dislocations non-operatively is based on the poor results of the Phemister and Bosworth operation; however, cerclage with a Dacron ligament has a low complication rate and gives a high percentage of anatomical reduction. It is therefore considered an effective method to treat complete acromioclavicular dislocations.