Results Following The Surgical Treatment of Acromioclavicular Joint dislocations; A Comparison of Phemister With Bosworth Operation

Park, Jin young; Lyu, Suk Joo; Moon, Ki Hyuk; Kim, Myung Ho

Abstract

To compare the results the Bosworth with Phemister operation, we performed the Bosworth operation in 7 case and then Phemister operation in 9 case serially from 1994 to 1997 and followed them up postoperatively. The average follow-up was 19.2 months, with the longest being 32 months, and the shortest being 12 months. The extraarticular coracoclavicular fixation was done with a cancellous screw in Bosworth operation, the transarticular fixation with two or three Kirschner wires in Phemister operation and the coracoclavicular ligaments were sutured to all patient in phemister operation group. The average immobilization period 6.8 weeks(S.D.:1.0 weeks) in Bosworth operation, 6.5 weeks(S.D.:1.4 weeks) in Phemister operation. The cancellous screw or the Kirschner wires were removed in 12.6 weeks(S.D.:1.6 weeks) postoperatively in Bosworth operation, 11.8 weeks(S.D.:1.7 weeks) in Phemister operation and physiotheraphy was progressed to obtain the full range of motion. All of the patients were evaluated on a subjective(pain, night pain, medication. instability, activities of daily living), objective(range of motion) and roentgenographic(degree of displacement) basis at last follow-up. Shoulder function was assessed according to the shoulder score devised by the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons. The pain of Shoulder persisted remained in 1 case of Bosworth operation and in 3 cases of Phemister operation. The night pain around acromioclavicular joint was remained in 2 cases of Phemister operation. Average shoulder function index in Bosworth operation was 95 points and in Phemister operation 87 points. Average range of motion of Bosworth operation was 176degree (S.D.:9degree in forward elevation, 68degree(S.D.:11degree in external rotation, 88.6degree(S.D.:12degree in cross-rotation at 90degreeabduction, 22cm (S.D.:11cm) in cross-body adduction and T9 in internal rotation and Phemister operation 147degree(S.D. 18degree in forward elevation, 72degree S.D.:12degree in external body adduction and T8 in internal ratation. All of the patients were satisfied for results of operation. After surgery, loss of reduction was found in 3 of 7 in Bosworth operation and all of the patients were over 40 years and then conversions to Phemister operation was needed. According to short-term follow-up we prefer the transarticular Phemister method and Bosworth operation may be avoided in patients over 40 yeras old.