FUNCTIONAL OUTCOME OF ACROMIOCLAVICULAR JOINT INJURY IN POLYTRAUMA PATIENTS

Objective: To evaluate the functional outcome of displaced acromioclav icular (AC) injuries in polytrauma patients. Design: A matched, case-c ontrol study using a prospectively gathered trauma database. Methods: Twelve polytrauma patients with a concomitant displaced acromioclavicu lar joint injury were matched to polytrauma ma patients without an acr omioclavicular joint injury and to patients with an isolated displaced acromioclavicular joint injury. They were evaluated with a series of five shoulder questionnaires and the SF-36 general health status quest ionnaire. Results: Shoulder function in polytrauma/acromioclavicular j oint injured patients was consistently worse than in control patients with an isolated acromioclavicular joint injury. In addition, the pres ence of an acromioclavicular joint injury in a polytrauma patient had a negative effect on several components of the SF-36. Conclusions: A d isplaced acromioclavicular joint injury in a polytrauma patient has a greater effect on shoulder function than isolated acromioclavicular jo int injuries when evaluated by both disease-specific and general healt h outcomes. Standard treatment methods may be inadequate for this grou p of patients.