Results of a prospective multicenter trial for treatment of acromioclavicular dislocation

The treatment of the acromioclavicular joint dislocation is a topic of constant debate. Objective of the study was to analyze if operative treatment of Rockwood types 3 and 5 acromioclavicular joint dislocations is superior to nonoperative treatment. Treatment outcomes of 100 patients (91 male, 9 female, median age 33.7 +/- 8.6) from 4 different hospitals/departments of trauma surgery were analyzed. Clinicofunctional, radiological, as well as subjective parameters were taken into consideration. Clinicofunctional outcome of the operative treatment of acromioclavicular joint dislocation was very good in 91.2 % of patients. 87.7 % of the operated patients had a subjectively stable joint. The patients operated on for the acromioclavicular joint dislocation were capable of exercising after 13 weeks post surgery. versus 25.3 weeks in nonoperatively treated patients. The operated patients had a Rowe score and Constant score as high as 90.7 and 91.8 respectively, reflecting an excellent treatment outcome. Operative anatomic reconstruction of the injured acromioclavicular joint leads to very good clinicofunctional outcomes. The operative technique plays only a minor role in achieving these outcomes. The rate of complications is low for all operative techniques listed here. Demanding patients and multimedia education of patients are the reasons for a majority of operated patients in this study (97 %).