Surgical treatment of chronic acromioclavicular joint dislocation by modified Weaver-Dunn procedure.

We present our technique for surgically treating Tossy III acromioclavicular joint dislocation, discuss the indications for various procedures, and evaluate our postoperative results. We operated on 17 patients suffering from chronic acromioclavicular instability after such dislocation using a modified Weaver-Dunn procedure, in which there is no lateral clavicular end resection, the coracoacromial ligament graft is sutured to the inferior part of the clavicle by transosseal sutures, and a Bosworth coracoclavicular screw is used to protect the graft postoperatively for 8 weeks. After a mean of 37 months we evaluated shoulder function by the Constant score and the subjective and radiological results. Mean Constant score was 91.9% (74-100%); it was 80-90% in 5 patients and above 90% in 11. One patient had screw loosing after the operation and suffered partial loss of reduction and discomfort during shoulder loading. All patients but one returned to work, and all but one have returned to their preoperative activity at the same level. Subjectively, there were 11 excellent and 6 good results. Compared to the contralateral uninjured side, radiography showed anatomical reposition in the vertical plane in 9 cases, slight loss of reduction in 6 (difference in the distance between the inferior border of the acromion and the clavicle is 2-4 mm), and partial loss of reduction in 2 (4-8 mm). We recommend the modified Weaver-Dunn procedure for surgical treatment of chronic, Tossy grade III acromioclavicular joint dislocations as it provides good functional and subjective results. Our modification is indicated mainly for young patients because posttraumatic arthrosis occurs more frequently in elderly patients, making clavicular end resection necessary.

Sports ability after Bankart procedure in professional athletes.

Recurrent anterior shoulder instability and the restoration of sports ability after surgery are common problems, especially among professional athletes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the rate, level and time of returning to sports activity activity after Bankart procedure in anterior shoulder instability in high level athletes. From 1992-1994 61 patients suffering from recurrent anterior shoulder instability were operated on open Bankart procedure, 44 out of 61 were professional athletes. There were 7 handball, 7 basketball, 6 football, 2 waterpolo and 1 baseball player and 4 wrestlers, 2 weight-lifters, 2 boxers, 3 bicyclists, 2 motorists, 2 swimmers, 2 sailors, 2 kayakers and 2 skiers. The mean duration of instability was 19.1 months (3-72) before operation. 29 patients had posttraumatic recurrent anterior dislocation and 15 patients had posttraumatic anterior subluxations. The average number of redislocations was 4.4, ranging from 2 to 11. At the follow-up examination the patients were tested clinically for instability using the special score created by Walch and Duplay and the Constant functional score. We measured the strength of the rotator cuff by Kintrex isokinetic device from the 10th postoperative week. 35 out of 44 professional athletes could be followed-up. The average follow-up period was 14.2 months, from 6 to 31. 88% of the patients were able to return to sports participation, 66% on the previous level and 22% on a lower level. 12% of the patients finished their professional sports career. The mean rehabilitation period was 5.8 months, the average period of full restoration of sports ability was 9.3 months. Similar results were documented with the Constant score and the Walch-Duplay test (88% excellent or good, 12% fair). The main reason for the inability to continue sports activity was some pain during extreme abduction and external rotation of the arm and recurrent sensations of subluxation (3 cases). Based on the results of the follow-up examinations an early diagnosis is paramount followed by timely surgical intervention to restore anatomical integrity in proven cases of shoulder instability in professional athletes. The open Bankart procedure is preferred giving excellent functional results and providing good chances for the athletes to return to their previous sports level.