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Primary versus revision arthroscopically-assisted acromio- and coracoclavicular stabilization of chronic AC-joint instability

  • Arthroscopy and Sports Medicine
  • Published:
Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

A gracilis tendon autograft with TightRope-augmentation can be used for arthroscopically-assisted acromioclavicular (AC)- and coracoclavicular (CC-)stabilization of chronic bidirectional AC-joint instability after failed primary treatment. The impact of failed initial treatment on postoperative outcome is unclear. Hence, the purpose of this study was to evaluate it.

Methods

Twenty-seven of 38 patients suffering from chronic AC-joint instability after either failed conservative (group 1) or surgical treatment (group 2) treated in the above-mentioned technique were finally included in this study. The Subjective Shoulder Value, the Constant Score, the Taft Score and the Acromioclavicular Joint Instability Score were used for clinical evaluation. Bilateral anteroposterior stress radiographs and bilateral Alexander views were obtained for radiological evaluation.

Results

14 patients of group 1 [3f/11m; median age 47.6 (range 20.9–57.4) years] could be evaluated after a median follow-up of 24.3 (range 20–31.2) months and 13 patients of group 2 [6f/7m; median age 44.9 (range 24.9–61.0) years] were available after a median follow-up of 28.8 (range 20–33) months. Comparison of clinical score results revealed no significant differences between both groups. The median CC-difference showed no significant difference between the groups [group 1 0.8 (0–10.5) mm, group 2 0.9 (0–4.3) mm].

Conclusion

AC- and CC-stabilization of chronic bidirectional AC-joint instability using a gracilis tendon autograft with TightRope-augmentation can be recommended after failed conservative and surgical treatment.

Study design

Retrospective cohort study; Level of evidence III.

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Author notes

  1. Natascha Kraus and Carmen Hann contributed equally to this study.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, Center for Musculoskeletal Surgery, Charité-Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Germany

    Natascha Kraus, Carmen Hann, Marvin Minkus, Nina Maziak & Markus Scheibel

  2. Department of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, Schulthess Clinic, Zurich, Switzerland

    Markus Scheibel

Authors
  1. Natascha Kraus
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  2. Carmen Hann
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  3. Marvin Minkus
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  4. Nina Maziak
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  5. Markus Scheibel
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Markus Scheibel.

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Conflict of interest

The authors would like to state that no outside funding or grants were received that assisted in this study. Natascha Kraus, Carmen Hann, Nina Maziak and Marvin Minkus, their immediate family, and any research foundation with which they are affiliated have not received any financial payments or other benefits from any commercial entity related to the subject of this article. Markus Scheibel received consultant payments from Arthrex Company related to this work.

Ethical statement

This study was approved by the local ethical committee (EA4/044/17).

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Kraus, N., Hann, C., Minkus, M. et al. Primary versus revision arthroscopically-assisted acromio- and coracoclavicular stabilization of chronic AC-joint instability. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 139, 1101–1109 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-019-03153-3

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