Yongtao Zeng,1,2,* Hongcheng Zheng,1,2,* ReFati Nijiati,1,2,* NacikeDaoerji,1,2 Husen Wang,1,2 Bin Tang,1,2 Yimuranjiang Yiming,1,2 Erpanijiang Tusunjiang,1,2 Li Shu1,2 

1Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Sports Medicine, Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, People’s Republic of China

*These authors contributed equally to this work

Correspondence: Li Shu, Email shuliyundongyixue@yeah.net

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the clinical efficacy and radiological results of three surgical methods for treating Rockwood III–V acromioclavicular dislocation.
Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 62 patients with acute Rockwood III–V acromioclavicular dislocation who were admitted to our hospital from September 2017 to December 2022. Among these patients, 19 received the modified Weaver-Dunn technique (Group A), 20 underwent the arthroscopic single tunnel technique (Group B), and 23 received the arthroscopic coracoid sling technique (Group C). The clinical outcomes assessed included perioperative indicators, shoulder joint function outcomes, VAS scores, acromioclavicular joint redislocation rates, and complications. The radiological results primarily focused on the changes in the distance between the beak and the clavicle (CCD).
Results: All patients were followed for an average duration of 32.72 ± 7.93 months. At the final follow-up, the shoulder joint function scores, pain scores, and imaging findings of all three patient groups exhibited significant improvements compared to their preoperative values. Three months post-surgery, a comparative analysis among the three groups revealed that Groups B and C demonstrated significantly superior shoulder joint function scores and pain relief in comparison to Group A (p 0.05). Regarding complications, all three groups experienced various postoperative complications; however, no significant differences were found in the incidence of complications among the groups (p > 0.05).
Conclusion: Three surgical methods have demonstrated favorable and comparable clinical and imaging outcomes in the treatment of acute acromioclavicular dislocation. Compared to the modified Weaver-Dunn technique, coracoid process single tunnel fixation and coracoid process non-tunnel suspension fixation may be more effective and provide a higher level of mobility.

Keywords: acromioclavicular dislocation, beak process single tunnel technology, beak process without tunnel suspension technology, coracoclavicular ligament