Delayed (Chronic) AC Joint Dislocation
Indications for operation
Anaesthetic
General Anaesthetic with an interscalene block (Fully asleep with a local anaesthetic injection into the side of the neck will numb the nerves to the shoulder for post-operative pain relief)
Operation type
Open
Incisions
A 5cm incision will be made over the top of the shoulder
An additional 5cm incision will be made over the inside of the knee to take one of the hamstring tendons. This will be used as a graft to replace the ligaments that have torn.
Procedure
The last 1cm of the clavicle will be removed as this is often a cause of pain if not removed. The top of the coracoid will be exposed and a small hole drilled through it and through the coracoid bone underneath. The Tightrope augmentation device will be passed through these holes and secured.
The Coraco-Acromial ligament will be released from the Acromion and reinforced with a Kevlar stitch. An additional hole will be made in the clavicle towards its end and the stitch will be passed through it. This will be secured over the top of the clavicle.
