Surgical treatment of acromioclavicular dislocation

Sixty-five patients were operated on for acromioclavicular dislocation between 1980 and 1991. Seventeen type II and 48 type III dislocations according to the criteria of Tossy et al. [15] were treated. Three different surgical techniques were employed. (1) tension band wiring, (2) a modification of the Bosworth repair [3], (3) reconstruction of the ligaments with augmentation by a PDS (polydioxanon) cord. Forty-four patients could be investigated retrospectively, and an additional 12 were recorded by questionnaire. The Taft score [14] was used, representing self-assessment, clinical statements and radiological findings. Of all investigated patients 87.5% had a normal range of motion without any loss of strength, and 32% suffered an osteoarthritis of the acromioclavicular joint. The average Taft score was 9.8. With respect to the three surgical techniques, reconstruction of the ligaments augmented by a PDS cord produced the best result, an average Taft score of 10.8.