Background: Severe acromioclavicular (AC) joint injuries Rockwood types III, IV, V and VI always need surgical management. Achievement of postoperative AC joint stability is a mandatory for satisfactory shoulder joint functional outcome.
Aim of the work: The aim of this study was to evaluate for how long the AC joint is stable with different surgical methods.
Patients and methods: twenty patients were conducted in this cohort prospective study with AC joint dislocation. Rockwood types III, IV, V and VI treated surgically by 3 different techniques Group 1 by mersilene tape with AC k wires, Group 2 by percutaneous AC joint screw and Group 3 by tension band wire. All Surgeries were performed at Orthopedic Department of Aswan University Hospital between May 2019 and August 2021and follow up time between 6 to 15 months. Patients age ranged from 20 to 57 (mean; 34.95±11.57) years, 17 male and 3 female. Constant score of the shoulder joint was used for final functional outcome.
Results: AC joint was stable with the different techniques. Constant score of the shoulder joint showed no significant difference between the 3 groups; however the mersilene tape was the best. Operative time was highest with Group 1. Bleeding time is the least with Group 2.
Conclusion: AC joint stability was achieved with using either mersilene tape, percutaneous AC joint screw, or tension band with no significant difference, however after 6 months of follow up mersilene tape achieve the highest stability.