Acromioclavicular Fixation Before Coracoclavicular Tunnel Placement and Acromioclavicular Construct Design Improved Reduction and Stability in a Whole-Shoulder Girdle Model: A Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND

Reconstruction of the acromioclavicular (AC) ligament after an acute AC dislocation as the first surgical step before coracoclavicular (CC) tunnel placement has been proposed to reduce the risk of postoperative loss of reduction. Additional reconstruction of AC ligamentous complex lesions with different types of bracing constructs has also been described to improve outcomes. Still, the effect of the sequence of surgical steps and the AC bracing construct design on the AC kinematics in a whole-shoulder girdle model has not been reported.

HYPOTHESIS

The primary hypothesis was that postoperative AC joint reduction would improve when the AC joint was reconstructed before CC tunnel placement. The secondary hypothesis was that different AC bracing construct designs affect joint kinematics during physiological motion in a whole-shoulder girdle model.

STUDY DESIGN

Controlled laboratory study.

METHODS

Five cadaveric specimens (10 shoulders) were prepared for whole-shoulder mobilization with a robotic manipulator. Joint kinematics was acquired during physiological motions using an optical motion capture system. Recorded parameters were (1) the joint reduction in a resting position, expressed as joint displacements and rotations compared with an intact AC joint, and (2) the joint stability during all tested motions, expressed as joint displacements and rotations. The tested joint conditions were intact AC joint, induced Rockwood type 5 lesion, isolated CC reconstruction, and 4 AC joint bracing construct designs. AC reconstruction was performed before (AC-first technique) and after (CC-first technique) CC tunnel placement in 5 shoulders each.

RESULTS

The AC-first surgical step improved the AC joint reduction in anterior-posterior tilt compared with CC-first (median difference, -9.4°; < .001). The AC-first surgical step also demonstrated an increased superior-inferior joint reduction with hyperreduction (median difference, 1.6 mm; = .041) compared with CC-first. Dispersion of joint reduction values was reduced with the AC-first step and particularly for anterior-posterior tilt (IQR difference, -4.8°) and lateral-medial displacement (IQR difference, -3.4 mm). The double vertical bracing construct design increased the AC joint stability compared with other constructs and reached a statistical significance in all rotational displacement ( < .001 to = .041) as well as in lateral-medial displacement ( = .001 to = .015).

CONCLUSION

The AC-first surgical step sequence improved AC joint alignment in the scapular sagittal plane and increased joint hyperreduction. The double vertical bracing construct design achieved the highest joint stability over other tested designs during passive motion.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

The restoration of the preinjury joint alignment and the optimization of the joint stability may improve outcomes and reduce the risk of construct de-tensioning during the rehabilitation phase.