ARTHROSCOPIC DISTAL CLAVICLE EXCISION - TECHNIQUE AND EARLY RESULTS

Since 1941, distal clavicle excision has been a reliable technique for alleviating pain caused by acromioclavicular joint arthritis. Disadva ntages of the procedure include permanent shoulder weakness, a lengthy recovery time ranging from weeks to months before useful function of the extremity returns, and lack of cosmesis. By modifying the standard portals used to perform arthroscopic subacromial decompression, the a uthors have successfully excised the distal clavicle of ten consecutiv e patients. Using this arthroscopic technique, the surgical time avera ged approximately one hour 40 minutes, blood loss was negligible, and there were no complications. Operations were performed in an outpatien t setting. Five of ten patients missed work only on the day of surgery , and seven of ten patients required no formal physical therapy. All t en patients achieved a good or excellent result on the UCLA Shoulder S cale for short-term followup evaluation. Postoperative radiographs doc umented adequate bone resection in all cases. In experienced hands, ar throscopic distal clavicle excision is an excellent substitute for the ''open'' procedure.