No Short-Term Effects of Acromioclavicular Joint Augmentation in Acute Acromioclavicular Joint Stabilization Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial on 70 Patients.

Study Summary

Seventy patients with acute Rockwood type IIIb or V acromioclavicular joint dislocations were randomized to receive either arthroscopically assisted double coracoclavicular (CC) stabilization alone (n=35) or the same procedure with additional acromioclavicular (AC) joint tape augmentation (n=35). The primary outcomes were the Constant–Murley score and Specific AC Score (SACS). Secondary outcomes included the Subjective Shoulder Value (SSV), Simple Shoulder Test (SST), Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) score, AC Joint Instability (ACJI) score, and radiographic assessments including overlapping length (OL), overlapping area (OA), and CC distance. Outcomes were assessed at 3, 6, and 12 months. Overall, the results of the study revealed no significant differences in clinical outcomes or horizontal stability between the two groups, although the AC-augmented group retained better vertical alignment (CC distance) at 6 and 12 months. These findings suggest that while both surgical approaches are effective, AC augmentation does not confer a meaningful short-term clinical benefit.