Absorbable suture + wire cerclage versus clavicular hook plates for treatment of acromioclavicular joint dislocation complicated with distal clavicle fracture

Objective To compare the clinical effects of absorbable suture / wire cerclage and clavicular hook plates in treatment of acromioclavieular dislocation complicated with distal clavicle frac-ture. Methods A retrospective analysis was done to compare the outcomes and complications of 48 patients with acromioclavicular dislocation plus distal clavicle fracture who had been treated between July 1998 and December 2005 with either absorbable suture / wire cerelage or clavicular hook plates. Twen-ty-three cases, 14 nudes and 9 females, received internal fixation with absorbable suture / wire eerclage for 9 left sides and 14 right sides. Twenty-five cases, 16 males and 9 females, received internal fixation with clavicular hook plates for 10 left sides and 15 fight sides. Their postoperative functional recovery was eval-uated by Lazzcano's criteria. Results All the patients were followed up for 6 to 25 (average, 14) months. According to Lazzcano's criteria, radiographic representations and postoperative shoulder functional recovery revealed an excellent and good rate of 100%. There was no significant difference between the 2 internal fixation methods (X =0.008,P=0.93). Conclusions Absorbable suture / wire cerclage and clavicular hook plates both display advantages of rigid fixation, biomechanieal fitness, good functional re-covery of acromioelavicular joint. In addition, the former does not need a secondary operation for removal of implants. Key words: Shoulder dislocation;  Acromioclavicular joint;  Clavicle;  Fractures;  Internal fixation