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Sports activity after anatomic acromioclavicular joint stabilisation with flip-button technique

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Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Aims and scope

Abstract

Purpose

Sports activity after surgical AC joint stabilisation has not been comprehensively evaluated to date. The aim of this study was to determine rate, level and time to return to sports after AC joint stabilisation and to identify the influence of overhead sports on post-operative sports activity.

Methods

In this retrospective case series, a total of 68 patients with a high-grade AC joint dislocation (Rockwood type V) were stabilised using a single TightRope technique. Fifty-five patients (80.9 %) with median age of 42.0 (range, 18–65) years completed questionnaires regarding sports activity before and after surgery. Clinical outcome and complications were also evaluated. Forty-three patients participated in sports regularly before injury. Their sports activity was rated according to Allain, and non-overhead and overhead sports were differentiated.

Results

At median follow-up of 24 (18–45) months, 41 of 43 patients (95.3 %) had returned to sports. 63 % returned to the same sports activity as before injury. 16.3 % needed to adapt the type of sports to reduce demanding activities. 11.6 % reduced the frequency and 32.5 % the intensity of sports. The median time to return to sports was 9.5 (3–18) months. Overhead athletes (Allain Type III and IV) had to reduce their sports activity significantly more often (11.8 vs. 53.8 %; p = 0.011) and needed more time to return to sports (9.5 vs. 4.5 months; p = 0.009).

Conclusion

After stabilisation of AC joint dislocation, the majority of patients returned to sports after a substantial period of time. Overhead athletes, in particular, required more time and had to considerably reduce their sports activity. The findings impact therapeutic decision-making after AC joint injury and help with the prognosis and assessment of rehabilitation progress.

Level of evidence

IV.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. BG Trauma Center Ludwigshafen at Heidelberg University Hospital, Ludwig-Guttmann-Straße 13, 67071, Ludwigshafen, Germany

    Felix Porschke, Marc Schnetzke, Sara Aytac, Stefan Studier-Fischer, Paul Alfred Gruetzner & Thorsten Guehring

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  1. Felix Porschke
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Correspondence to Thorsten Guehring.

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All costs arising for this clinical study was funded by the internal clinic-budget for scientific follow up.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study

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Porschke, F., Schnetzke, M., Aytac, S. et al. Sports activity after anatomic acromioclavicular joint stabilisation with flip-button technique. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 25, 1995–2003 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-016-4287-7

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