Suture Button Versus Hook Plate for Acute Unstable Acromioclavicular Joint Dislocation: A Meta-analysis

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Sports Medicine
• Biomechanical Engineering

Background:

• Unstable acromioclavicular (AC) joint dislocations necessitate surgical intervention.
• The hook plate (HP) technique is a traditional surgical method.
• The suture button (SB) technique is an emerging alternative for AC joint stabilization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare patient outcomes between the suture button (SB) and hook plate (HP) techniques for acute unstable AC joint dislocations.
• To conduct a meta-analysis of existing clinical studies.
• To evaluate functional scores, pain levels, and complication rates.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted across Embase, PubMed, and Cochrane Library databases.
• Included studies were cohort and case-control designs comparing SB and HP techniques.
• Statistical analysis was performed using RevMan software following PRISMA guidelines.

Main Results:

• The suture button (SB) technique showed significantly higher Constant scores and lower visual analog scale pain scores compared to the hook plate (HP) technique.
• No significant differences were found in operation time, coracoclavicular distance, complication rates, or loss of reduction.
• Subgroup analysis indicated arthroscopic SB technique superiority in functional outcomes over HP.

Conclusions:

• The suture button (SB) technique demonstrates superior functional outcomes and pain reduction for acute unstable AC joint dislocations compared to the hook plate (HP) technique.
• While overall complication and reduction loss rates are similar, arthroscopic SB procedures may offer enhanced functional recovery.
• Further research may explore long-term outcomes and refine arthroscopic SB techniques.