Summary

does it have a role in neglected acromioclavicular injury?

Abstract

Introduction

In India especially rural areas Acromio Clavicular Joint (ACJ) injuries are common as their habit of carrying weight over shoulder and head.These places ACJ are often neglected and present late with disability. The literature is less from India on functional outcome of AC joint reconstruction and we did not find any literature on non-athlete rural population. We investigated the functional outcome of Weaver Dunn procedure in rural population of India.

Methodology

In this retrospective study, patients with ACJ dislocation operated with the modified Weaver-dunn reconstruction between January 2014 to December 2019 are evaluated. These patients were classified on the basis of Rockwood classificsation. Indication for surgery were - failed primary non operative treatment in rockwood type III, and type IV,V,VI. Patients with chronic injury, preexisting shoulder problem or cervical degeneration were excluded. Out of 41 patients 38 were available for final follow up.

Result : The average age of the patients in our study was 36.5 (range 22 to 74 years). The time interval between the injury and surgery was ranging from 6 weeks to 24 weeks. The mean pre-operative Oxford Shoulder Score improved from 25 to 45. 33 (87.5%) patients had excellent functional outcomes, 4 (10%) patients had good outcome, one (2.5%) patient had fair outcome while no patient had poor outcome.
visual analog scale (VAS) was excellent. Thirty six (95%) patients had no pain at all, while two (5%) complained of moderate pain at final follow-up visit. Complications after this surgery were minimal.

Conclusion

Weaver-dunn surgery for neglected high grade AC joint reconstruction injury will give excellent functional outcome.