OBJECTIVETo study the clinical efficacy of the endobutton in the treatment of acute acromioclavicular joint dislocation by reconstructing coracoclavicular ligaments.

METHODSFrom October 2008 to January 2010,12 patients with acute acromioclavicular joint dislocation were immobilized with the endobutton. All the patients had the dislocations of or above type III according to Rockwood classification. Among the patients, 9 patients were male and 3 patients were female, with an average age of 55 years (ranged from 31 to 83 years). Eight patients had injuries in the left, and 4 patients in the right. Four patients had accompanied injuries of rib fractures, 2 patients had brain injuries,and 1 patient had femoral fracture. Seven patients were injured by traffic accident, 4 patients were injured by falling down,and 1 patient was sports injuries. All the patients had pain and tenderness at the shoulder, positive piano sign, and shoulder confined activity. The duration from injury to operation ranged from 2 days to 10 days (averaged 6 days). The therapeutic effects were evaluated by Karlsson criteria based on range of motion of acromioclavicular joint, subjective feeling,and postoperative X-ray.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up, and the duration ranged from 4 months to 19 months (averaged 11 months). The motion of the shoulder joint recovered to normal about 15 to 35 days after operation. There were no displacement, dislocation and redislocation occurred. All the patients got A degree results according to Karlsson criteria.

CONCLUSIONReconstruction of coracoclavicular ligament by using the endobutton to treat acute acromioclavicular dislocation of or above type III is a perfect method with advantage of rigid fixation, micro-injury, and early functional exercise.