Surgery for Acromioclavicular Separation
Acromioclavicular separation is an injury to the small joint at the top of the shoulder (acromioclavicular joint or AC joint). The AC joint connects the outer tip of the collarbone (clavicle) to the top of the shoulder blade (acromion). Two strong cords of tissue (acromioclavicular ligament and coracoclavicular ligament) stretch across the AC joint to keep it in place. An AC joint separation happens when one or both ligaments stretch or tear, causing the joint to separate.
You may need surgery to repair acromioclavicular separation if your condition is severe, or if other treatment methods have not helped you. The surgery may include using a piece of tissue from your arm (tendon graft) to strengthen …show more content…
○ A medicine that is injected into an area of your body to numb everything below the injection site (regional anesthetic).
• An incision will be made on the top of your shoulder.
• If you are having a tendon graft:
○ An incision will be made in your forearm.
○ A piece of a tendon in your forearm will be removed to use as the graft.
○ This incision will be closed with stitches (sutures) and covered with a bandage (dressing).
• An incision will be made in the tissues surrounding your AC joint (shoulder capsule).
• Ligaments that can be repaired may be stitched together or anchored to each side of your AC joint with screws.
• A small portion of bone at the tip of your clavicle may be removed.
• Holes may be made through the end of your clavicle and through your acromion.
• A suture, or the tendon graft, or both will be threaded through the holes and tightened across your AC joint to hold your joint together.
• The incision in your shoulder capsule will be closed with sutures. The incision in your skin will be closed with sutures or staples and covered wtih a dressing.
• Your arm will be placed in a sling.
The procedure may vary among health care providers and
Acromioclavicular separation is an injury to the small joint at the top of the shoulder (acromioclavicular joint or AC joint). The AC joint connects the outer tip of the collarbone (clavicle) to the top of the shoulder blade (acromion). Two strong cords of tissue (acromioclavicular ligament and coracoclavicular ligament) stretch across the AC joint to keep it in place. An AC joint separation happens when one or both ligaments stretch or tear, causing the joint to separate.
You may need surgery to repair acromioclavicular separation if your condition is severe, or if other treatment methods have not helped you. The surgery may include using a piece of tissue from your arm (tendon graft) to strengthen …show more content…
○ A medicine that is injected into an area of your body to numb everything below the injection site (regional anesthetic).
• An incision will be made on the top of your shoulder.
• If you are having a tendon graft:
○ An incision will be made in your forearm.
○ A piece of a tendon in your forearm will be removed to use as the graft.
○ This incision will be closed with stitches (sutures) and covered with a bandage (dressing).
• An incision will be made in the tissues surrounding your AC joint (shoulder capsule).
• Ligaments that can be repaired may be stitched together or anchored to each side of your AC joint with screws.
• A small portion of bone at the tip of your clavicle may be removed.
• Holes may be made through the end of your clavicle and through your acromion.
• A suture, or the tendon graft, or both will be threaded through the holes and tightened across your AC joint to hold your joint together.
• The incision in your shoulder capsule will be closed with sutures. The incision in your skin will be closed with sutures or staples and covered wtih a dressing.
• Your arm will be placed in a sling.
The procedure may vary among health care providers and