[Acromioclavicular injuries in professional athletes]

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Sports Medicine
• Traumatology

Background:

• Acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) dislocations are frequent shoulder girdle injuries in athletes.
• Low-grade ACJ injuries are more common than high-grade injuries.
• Injury mechanisms include direct shoulder trauma or indirect trauma from falls.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for acromioclavicular joint dislocations.
• To emphasize accurate radiological diagnostics for injury classification.
• To discuss operative and non-operative management based on injury grade and individual factors.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing accurate radiological diagnostics, including stress radiography, for ACJ injury classification.
• Non-operative treatment involving immobilization, analgesia, and physiotherapy for most ACJ injuries.
• Surgical treatment for high-grade ACJ dislocations (Rockwood types IV and V), considering individual athlete factors.

Main Results:

• Accurate diagnostics are crucial for correct ACJ injury classification.
• Non-operative management is effective for lower-grade ACJ injuries.
• Surgical indications for ACJ dislocations are typically high-grade injuries, with tailored approaches for acute and chronic cases.

Conclusions:

• Postoperative recovery for ACJ dislocations involves a 6-week immobilization period.
• Return to competitive sport is generally expected within 3-4 months for acute injuries.
• Return to sport after chronic ACJ injury reconstruction is typically around 6 months.