Acromioclavicular Joint Dislocation (Separation):

The Acromioclavicular (AC) Joint comprises of the collarbone and the shoulder blade aligned together by a COMBINATION of soft tissue structures like ligaments, tendons, and muscles. In an AC joint dislocation, both the bones move out of their alignment, damaging some of the surrounding tissues. It is usually seen in athletes due to falling or an external direct impact on the joint.
It can be treated with nonoperative treatments such as:

• Wearing a protective sling
• Using ice packs to reduce pain and swelling
• Taking over-the-counter pain and anti-inflammatory medications
• A physical therapy program to restore normal range of motion and strength one may have to consider surgical restoration. The most common technique is to surgically fix the coracoclavicular ligaments between the base of the coracoid and the clavicle. This fixation procedure is performed by one of the following ways:
• Using surgical screws, tapes and sutures to stabilise the entire joint
• Using pins or plates to create a fixation across the acromioclavicular JOINT
• Using different IMPLANTS to create a loop connection from the clavicle to the coracoid process