Comparison of the Clinical Outcomes of Tight-Rope technique and Clavicular Hook Plate in Treating Acute Acromioclavicular Joint Dislocation

Abstract

Abstract Objectives: To investigate and compare the clinical outcomes of acute acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) dislocations treated by the Tight-Rope (TR) technique and clavicle hook plate (CHP). Methods: 34 patients with acute ACJ dislocation was treated by using TR technique in 16 patients (9 males, 5 females; mean age 38 years) and CHP in 20 patients (15 males, 5 females; mean age 33 years). Radiological and functional evaluations were routinely conducted with 1 year postoperatively. The mean follow up was 14.7 months. Results: All patients were statistically significant improvement in the constant score (CS), coracoclavicular (CC) distance, visual analogue scale (VAS) score at the last follow-up (P < 0.001). Compared with the CHP group, TR technique group had statistically significant shorter incision, length of stay, blood loss and subjective satisfactory score. (P < 0.001); The CS, CC distance and VAS score had no significant difference between two groups at the end of follow-up (P > 0.05). Patients who underwent CHP had a higher incidence of wound issue, osteolysis and osteoarthritisthan, while TR group had higher risk of re-dislocations. Conclusions: This study showed equivalent clinical efficacy of the TR and CHP techniques, with slightly different results including complications. We suggest that the choice of treatment for acute ACJ dislocation should be individually considered.