Shoulder Separation Repair

Shoulder separation or acromioclavicular joint dislocation is a common injury in athletes who play contact sports such as ice-hockey, rugby, football, basketball, cycling, and motorcross. When the injury is only mild, usually treatment can be nonoperative.

This is not the case in severe injury. If injury is treated early (within 3 weeks), minimally invasive arthroscopic, or keyhole procedures can be completed. However if surgery is delayed for a long time, larger surgery is done.

Images of severe shoulder separation.
severe shoulder separation

Xrays of severe shoulder separation.
Xrays of severe shoulder separation

See images below showing the arthoscopic repair.
arthoscopic repair

Operating room set up for AC Joint Reconstruction
set up for AC Joint Reconstruction

Results after surgery.
Results after surgery

Clinical results after chronic ac joint reconstruction with graft.
Picture1Picture2

Usually after surgery, a high level of competition can be resumed, including activities like motocross.