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Presurgical perspective and postsurgical evaluation of acromioclavicular joint instability

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Abstract

Acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) dislocations are a common cause of pain in patients of any age. Athletes who participate in contact sports, such as hockey, football, rugby, and soccer, are particularly susceptible to such injuries. The ACJ has an important role in the function of the upper limb, and its complexity of movement makes it susceptible to acute injuries and chronic dysfunction with debilitating effects that must be treated appropriately and promptly to preserve function. Recently, ACJ has received increasing attention due to the development of new surgical techniques for the restoration of normal function and stability. There is some agreement about the treatment of ACJ dislocations, but controversy remains about the treatment of Rockwood grade III dislocations, and a new approach to these injuries is suggested by ISAKOS. Overall, the paper summarizes new concepts in the anatomy of the ACJ and reviews the utility of imaging methods in ACJ dislocations as well as their treatment and complications.

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Abbreviations

ACJ:

Acromioclavicular joint

ACL:

Acromioclavicular ligaments

CCL:

Coraco-clavicular ligaments

MCCL:

Medial coracoclavicular ligament

DTF:

Deltotrapezial fascia

CAL:

Coraco-acromial ligament

OA:

Osteoarthritis

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, IBERORAD, 1893, Carrer Valencia 226, Principal, Primera, 08007, Barcelona, Spain

    Alexeys Perez Yubran

  2. Department of Radiology, Diagnóstico Médico Cantabria, Santander, Spain

    Luis Cerezal Pesquera

  3. Department of Radiology, Hospital de La Ribera, Valencia, Spain

    Eva Llopis San Juan

  4. Department of Radiology, Mutua Navarra, Pamplona, Spain

    Fernando Idoate Saralegui

  5. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, Spain

    Alvaro Cerezal Canga

  6. Department of Arthroscopic Surgery, Hospital Santa Clotilde, Santander, Spain

    Antonio Cruz Camara

  7. Department of Shoulder Surgery, Hospital Ortopedico Infantil, Caracas, Venezuela

    Gustavo Matheus Valdivieso

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  1. Alexeys Perez Yubran
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Yubran, A.P., Pesquera, L.C., Juan, E.L.S. et al. Presurgical perspective and postsurgical evaluation of acromioclavicular joint instability. Skeletal Radiol 53, 847–861 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-023-04526-x

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