Acute acromioclavicular joint dislocation treated with tightrope : Mini-open versus percutaneous stabilization

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Sports Medicine
• Traumatology

Background:

• Acute acromioclavicular (AC) joint injuries are common, requiring effective stabilization techniques.
• Traditional mini-open repair and newer percutaneous stabilization methods are used for AC joint injuries.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prospectively compare radiographic and clinical outcomes of tightrope fixation for acute AC joint injuries using mini-open versus percutaneous approaches.

Main Methods:

• Eighty patients with acute AC joint injuries were randomized into two groups: mini-open repair (Group A, n=40) and percutaneous stabilization (Group B, n=40).
• Demographic, peri-operative, complication, and clinical outcome data were collected and compared.
• Radiographic assessment included coracoclavicular (CC) distance and loss of reduction.

Main Results:

• Operative time and incision length were significantly shorter in the percutaneous group (45.6 min, 4.0 cm) compared to the mini-open group (63.2 min, 6.0 cm) (P<0.05).
• No significant differences were found in radiographic CC distance or rate of loss of reduction between the groups (P>0.05).
• Clinical outcomes and follow-up duration (approx. 26 months) were comparable between both treatment groups.

Conclusions:

• Both mini-open and percutaneous tightrope fixation are effective for acute AC joint dislocations.
• Percutaneous stabilization offers advantages of reduced operative time and smaller incision size without compromising radiographic or clinical results.