Four joints make up the shoulder, and it’s one of the most complex areas of the body. The AC joint or acromioclavicular joint is where the clavicle (collarbone) and the acromion bone of the scapula (shoulder blade) meet. The acromion bone is the highest point of the shoulder. When injury or trauma affects the shoulder, often the AC joint becomes disjoined and separated at the clavicle and scapula. This is often the result of a direct hit in contact sports or from a fall or traumatic accident. The acromioclavicular ligament is stretched or torn with AC joint separation, but when the coracoclavicular ligaments is also torn or injured, this causes instability and limited or no shoulder function.
The shoulder joint is one of the most complex joints in the body and provides the most range-of-motion. When the AC joint is dislocated, many times, surrounding tendons and ligaments are also injured or torn. These types of cases may cause lengthy healing times and require surgical intervention.
If the patients’ symptoms are mild to moderate, there is a good chance that conservative treatment options will be enough to relieve pain and improve functionality. Consequently, surgery may be necessary if the disorder is advanced or involves or exacerbates other shoulder conditions. The physicians at Sforzo | Dillingham | Stewart Orthopedics + Sports Medicine are board certified with extensive experience in all aspects of orthopedics.
The complexity of the shoulder is as follows: The upper arm bone fits snuggly into the glenoid socket, and the labrum acts as a cushion to protect and stabilize the joint. The labrum is a strong fibrous ring that stabilizes many ligaments and the bicep tendon. The shoulder joint is protected and stabilized by a group of muscles that form tendons, known as the rotator cuff. The humerus bone is encapsulated and protected by the rotator cuff as it wraps from the humerus bone to the scapular or shoulder blade.
Type 1, 2 and 3 are the most common types of injury
Dr. Sforzo and Dr. Dillingham both provide excellent treatment options for their patients with shoulder injuries and degenerative disease. They are leaders in providing technically intricate procedures such as arthroscopic repair and total reverse shoulder surgery.
We will perform an in-depth physical examination of the shoulder and evaluate your pain level with mobility. Diagnostic imaging is also essential to view the intricate details of the shoulder and determine an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment plan.
Surgical intervention may be necessary for severe cases or for those with multiple shoulder injuries. In some cases, AC joint reconstruction is essential for return of function to the shoulder. When there is deformity, ongoing pain, and multiple shoulder injuries, we recommend reconstructive surgery.
When there is deformity, reconstructing the shoulder by trimming the collarbone away from the acromion is often essential. As is reconstructing and reattaching ligaments to the collarbone and scapula. If there are fractures involved, those will be treated as well with plates and screws or other means that are necessary. Grafts may be necessary for bone loss and also for ligament reconstruction. These can be taken from the patient or donor allografts.
The benefits of AC joint reconstruction is that the ligaments are properly restored, and the tissue will naturally continue to grow until the area is healed to the point of increased function. The stability of the shoulder will be much more reliable with reconstructive surgery than with conservative methods. Conservative methods are viable in many cases, but not in severe AC joint separation.
No matter how the shoulder is treated, a patient will require physical therapy and rehabilitation. This will allow for optimal healing, recovery, strength, flexibility, and increased range of motion and functionality.
It’s important not to overdo it with AC joint separation; however, a physical therapist can guide patients on what stretches, and exercises can and should be safely performed at home. Never push yourself if it’s painful, and always take time to warm up your muscles and joints. Using a warm towel, heating pad, or taking a hot shower can help to improve range of motion and avoid further injury.
With rest, physical therapy, and other conservative methods, patients can heal from grade 1-3 of joint separation within 6 to 8 weeks. A full recovery from reconstructive surgery may take 6 months.
Resting the shoulder, icing, taking anti-inflammatory medications and getting physical therapy are often enough to heal minor AC joint separation injuries.
AC joint separation is painful. Depending on the severity of the injury will determine a patient’s level of pain. With full tears and dislocations, it can be quite painful until treated and even after treatment, a patient may still experience pain on a lower level for a short period of time until the body heals properly.
Sforzo | Dillingham | Stewart Orthopedics + Sports Medicine put their patient’s needs first above all else. Isn’t it time you placed your health in the hands of the experts?
With decades of experience, the board certified, fellowship trained surgeons at Sforzo | Dillingham | Stewart Orthopedics + Sports Medicine offer you the best treatment options and care.
Our commitment to our patients is to provide excellent medical care in a warm and caring environment. Most importantly, allowing time with the doctor to have questions and concerns addressed. Let us get you back in your game.
As healthcare is ever changing, Sforzo | Dillingham | Stewart Orthopedics + Sports Medicine, is doing things differently…
After tearing my rotator cuff, not only was I experiencing pain but my quality of life was diminished. Playing golf and working out were painful rather than enjoyable. Graci and I sought out Fellowship trained Dr. Christopher Sforzo and the team at Sforzo | Dillingham | Stewart Orthopedics + Sports Medicine. I was treated non-surgically and am now pain free, mobile and enjoying everything I did before.
As avid golfers and tennis enthusiasts, our rotator cuff injuries left us in pain, and unable to enjoy our sport. In researching for the most qualified surgeons, we found that Sforzo | Dillingham | Stewart Orthopedics + Sports Medicine not only had the highest level of training and experience, but they were also highly recommended by friends and associates who had excellent results. We, too, had outstanding…
I was visiting the area looking at property and considering a full time re-location from Minnesota when I was in a traffic accident. The result was a very painful shoulder injury that would ultimately require bilateral RTC repairs. I was unable to undertake regular day-to-day activities or participate in my favorite sport – tennis. It was essential that I choose a shoulder specialist that could quickly set…
Over the years we had seen several orthopedists in town but were never impressed. They seemed to lack knowledge or compassion or both. Then when Liza was in high school, she went to Sforzo | Dillingham | Stewart Orthopedics + Sports Medicine for a minor sports injury. They not only diagnosed her somewhat obscure problem, but explained things in a way that she understood without being patronizing…
As a very busy business owner in Sarasota, having not one, but two, massive rotator cuff tears had a debilitating effect on both my personal and professional life. From my first consultation with Sforzo | Dillingham | Stewart Orthopedics + Sports Medicine, I knew I was in good hands. The surgeons are board-certified and fellowship-trained, which gave me the confidence in achieving a successful outcome. More importantly,…
