Surgical Advances in the Treatment of Acromioclavicular Joint Injury: A Comprehensive Review

In this article, we aim to review the diagnosis, classification, and treatment of acromioclavicular joint injury by mainly describing the progress of surgical treatment for acromioclavicular joint injury, providing a reference for clinical diagnosis and treatment. Acromioclavicular joint injury is a common sports injury, which is more common in male than in female patients. The mechanism of the injury is mainly caused by direct or indirect violence, which can be clearly diagnosed by radiography. According to the time after injury, it can be divided into acute injury and chronic injury. The Rockwood classification is the most commonly used classification in research. For Rockwood types V to VI, we treat with surgery, while the treatment options for type III are controversial and no consensus has been reached. Surgical treatment can be divided into open surgery and shoulder arthroscopy. The methods of open surgery can be divided into 3 categories: direct acromioclavicular joint fixation, coracoclavicular space suspension device fixation, and coracoclavicular ligament reconstruction. The shoulder arthroscopy method involves reconstruction of the coracoclavicular ligament under arthroscopy, combined with suture-button suspension fixation. For patients with Rockwood classification III and IV-VI, who have significant movement needs, surgery is the preferred treatment for acute acromioclavicular dislocation within 3 weeks. For patients with a chronic acromioclavicular dislocation or who do not respond to nonsurgical treatment, it is recommended to use wire suspension fixation combined with ligament to repair the damage. This article aims to review advances in the management of acromioclavicular joint injury.