Four-year outcome of operative treatment of acute acromioclavicular dislocation

Seventy of 100 consecutive randomly allocated patients who had been treated for acute total acromioclavicular dislocation with either transfixation with two smooth Kirschner wires (29 cases), two threaded Kirschner wires (20), or one ASIF cortical screw (21) were followed for an average of 4 years. The coracoclavicular ligaments were not sutured. Results were good in 67 of the 70 patients. Using stress radiographs, no redislocation was found in 56 cases. Two complete dislocations were found in patients who had been treated with screw fixation. Osteolysis of the lateral head of the clavicle was found in 13 patients, eight of whom had been treated with screw fixation (p less than 0.01). Our results speak for the use of threaded Kirschner wire fixation for the operative treatment of acute total acromioclavicular dislocation.