upper limb
Acromioclavicular Joint Injury
intermediate
6 min
28 marks
6 questions
Clinical Scenario
A 28-year-old male professional rugby player presents following a direct blow to his right shoulder during a tackle. He complains of pain over the top of his shoulder and difficulty lifting his arm. Examination reveals a prominent step deformity at the AC joint with tenderness. There is no neurovascular deficit. He is keen to return to contact sport.
Shoulder radiographs are provided.
Shoulder radiographs are provided.
Clinical image for Acromioclavicular Joint Injury
Image source: Open Access medical literature (NIH/PubMed Central) • CC-BY License
Questions
Question 1 (4 marks)
Describe the anatomy of the acromioclavicular joint including the stabilizing structures.
Question 2 (5 marks)
How do you classify AC joint injuries? Describe the Rockwood classification.
Question 3 (6 marks)
What is your clinical and radiological assessment of AC joint injuries? How do you differentiate grades?
Question 4 (5 marks)
What are the indications for operative versus non-operative management? Describe the treatment options.
Question 5 (4 marks)
Describe the surgical techniques for acute AC joint reconstruction.
Question 6 (4 marks)
What are the complications of AC joint injury and its treatment?