New insights in the treatment of acromioclavicular separation

Figure 1 Digital pictures of a patient with a type-V acromioclavicular dislocation. A: Anterior view; B: Lateral view: The shoulder is passively adducted in the horizontal plain to test horizontal stability. Note the horizontal instability in this case.

Figure 2 Standard radiographic series of the shoulder. A: A true anterior-posterior view; B: Scapular Y lateral view; C: Axillary view; D: Zanca view; E: In case of acromioclavicular separation, a bilateral Zanca view can be useful.

Figure 3 Rockwood classification (Case courtesy of Dr Roberto Schubert, Radiopaedia. org, rID: 19124).

Figure 4 Intra-operative pictures of an autograft tendon reconstruction technique of the coracoclavicular joint without bone tunnels in combination with direct suture fixation of the acromioclavicular joint. A: The lateral clavicle is resected, and a double nonabsorbale suture is used for AC joint repair; B-D: A semitendinosus tendon is passed under the coracoid and over the clavicle for CC joint repair. AC: Acromioclavicular; CC: Coracoclavicular.