Reconstruction for chronic scapuloclavicular instability

Seventeen young patients with chronic scapuloclavicular instability were treated with tendon graft reconstruction. Sixteen patients had sustained a Type III and one sustained a Type II injury according to Allman's classification (Allman, FL: Fractures and ligamentous injuries of the clavicle and its articulation. J Bone Joint Surg 49A: 774-784, 1967). Both the coracoclavicular ligaments and the ligaments of the acromioclavicular joint were reconstructed. The operation was performed an average of 7.6 months after injury. The followup was from 8 months to 18 years, averaging 5.1 years. After surgery, 12 patients returned to heavy or moderately heavy work and eight engaged in athletics. All patients regained normal motion and muscle strength, except for one patient with posttraumatic hemiplegia. None required further surgery. Followup x-ray films showed no instability or degenerative changes.