Treatment of acromioclavicular dislocation by a Phemister method

Sohn, Sung Keun; Kim, Kyung Taek; Lee, Kyu Yeol; Kim, Sung Soo; Lee, Hyung Hwan

Abstract

Acromio-clavicular joint dislocation occurs when both acromioclavicular and coracoclavicular ligaments are ruptured and brings to deformity, arthralgia and limitation of motion of the shoulder joint. The treatment of complete acromioclavicular dislocation is controversial, and both of the conservative and surgical treatment are reported to be relatively successful. But, conservative treatment have many disadvantages and now rarely advocated. Recently, there are increasing tendencies to treat the acromioclavicular dislocatioll with anatomical reduction of acromioclavicular joint and rigid internal fixation for early movement of shoulder Joint. We report the results of 16 cases of acute acromioclavicular dislocation treated with Phemister or modified Phemister method. The results are as follows. 1. Among 16 cases,14 cases were males and 9 cases were belong to 3rd decade and 4th decade. 2. The most common cause of injuries was slip down. 3. Postoperative difference in coracoclavicular distance on radiogram was 0.1 mm on average. 4. Clinical results were excellent in 14 cases, good in 1 case and acceptable in 1 case. 5. Complications were redislocation in 1 case and K-wire migration in 1 case, but there was no arhritic changes on the affected A-C joint.