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.

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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?