Ds. Morrison et Mj. Lemos, ACROMIOCLAVICULAR SEPARATION - RECONSTRUCTION USING SYNTHETIC LOOP AUGMENTATION, American journal of sports medicine, 23(1), 1995, pp. 105-110
A total of 110 patients with a diagnosis of acromioclavicular joint se
paration were seen at our clinic between 1986 and 1991. Of these, 14 p
atients (12.7%) with grade III, IV, or V injuries required surgical re
construction and were examined 2 years after surgery. All 14 patients
underwent acromioclavicular reconstruction using a synthetic loop pass
ed through drill holes in the base of the coracoid and the anterior th
ird of the clavicle. When the loop is tightened, the clavicle is reduc
ed anatomically without the anterior subluxation caused by simple clav
icular cerclage. At an average followup of 44.2 months, patients were
evaluated using the University of California, Los Angeles, rating scal
e. Twelve of the 14 had good or excellent results and returned to norm
al sport and work activities at 6 months. Of the two initial poor resu
lts, one required revision 1 month postoperatively because the patient
was noncompliant, and the other required manipulation under anesthesi
a 3 months after surgery. The results in these two patients at 2 years
were good and excellent, respectively. We concluded that, when medica
lly indicated, fixation of the clavicle to the coracoid using this tec
hnique yields satisfactory results in an athletic population.