Different treatment strategies for acromioclavicular dislocation injuries: a nationwide survey on open/minimally invasive and arthroscopic concepts

Abstract Background Injuries to the acromioclavicular (AC) joint are one of the most common among sporting injuries of the upper extremity. Several studies investigated different treatment options comparing surgical and non-surgical treatment, and type of operative interventions. This study aims to...

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Main Authors: F. Allemann, S. Halvachizadeh, M. Waldburger, F. Schaefer, C. Pothmann, H. C. Pape, T. Rauer
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2019-03-01
Series:European Journal of Medical Research
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40001-019-0376-7
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author F. Allemann
S. Halvachizadeh
M. Waldburger
F. Schaefer
C. Pothmann
H. C. Pape
T. Rauer
author_facet F. Allemann
S. Halvachizadeh
M. Waldburger
F. Schaefer
C. Pothmann
H. C. Pape
T. Rauer
author_sort F. Allemann
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Injuries to the acromioclavicular (AC) joint are one of the most common among sporting injuries of the upper extremity. Several studies investigated different treatment options comparing surgical and non-surgical treatment, and type of operative interventions. This study aims to evaluate treatment decisions regarding injuries of the AC joint and to compare different treatment strategies depending on the specific training of the treating physician. Methods We performed a nationwide survey by contacting different experienced physicians and sending them questionnaires. The questionnaire included 37 questions that assessed preferred treatment strategies in AC joint injuries. We addressed different surgical and nonsurgical options as well as level of experience and factors that might influence the decision on treatment strategy. The physicians were stratified according to their training into general surgeons (group trauma associated) and orthopedic surgeons (orthopedic associated). The AC joint lesions were categorized according to the widely used Rockwood classification. Results This study analyses 96 questionnaires. We included 46 (47.9%) colleagues in group trauma and 50 (52.1%) in group orthopedics. Most of the colleagues (98.9%) prefer non-operative treatment of type I and type II AC lesions. Similarly, 96.8% agree on surgical treatment of types IV, V, and VI lesions. The treatment of type III lesions is performed in 41.6% of cases non-operatively and in 58.4% of cases surgically. Trauma-associated colleagues are 3.4 times more likely to treat AC lesions with a hook plate compared to orthopedic-associated colleagues (p = 0.05). In decreasing order, the most commonly used non-surgical technique is sling immobilization (63.7%), and the most commonly performed surgical treatment is the hook plate (41.1%) in treating type III injuries. Conclusion This study shows a distinct difference in treatment of AC joint injuries depending on the training of the physician. Further, the need for high-quality studies arises to define the optimal treatment of type III lesions.
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spelling doaj.art-f5a0b6323c3d48adb4924c2e3c1d2aae2022-12-21T19:20:47ZengBMCEuropean Journal of Medical Research2047-783X2019-03-012411710.1186/s40001-019-0376-7Different treatment strategies for acromioclavicular dislocation injuries: a nationwide survey on open/minimally invasive and arthroscopic conceptsF. Allemann0S. Halvachizadeh1M. Waldburger2F. Schaefer3C. Pothmann4H. C. Pape5T. Rauer6Department of Trauma, University Hospital ZurichDepartment of Trauma, University Hospital ZurichMedical School, University of ZurichDepartment of Trauma, University Hospital ZurichDepartment of Trauma, University Hospital ZurichDepartment of Trauma, University Hospital ZurichDepartment of Trauma, University Hospital ZurichAbstract Background Injuries to the acromioclavicular (AC) joint are one of the most common among sporting injuries of the upper extremity. Several studies investigated different treatment options comparing surgical and non-surgical treatment, and type of operative interventions. This study aims to evaluate treatment decisions regarding injuries of the AC joint and to compare different treatment strategies depending on the specific training of the treating physician. Methods We performed a nationwide survey by contacting different experienced physicians and sending them questionnaires. The questionnaire included 37 questions that assessed preferred treatment strategies in AC joint injuries. We addressed different surgical and nonsurgical options as well as level of experience and factors that might influence the decision on treatment strategy. The physicians were stratified according to their training into general surgeons (group trauma associated) and orthopedic surgeons (orthopedic associated). The AC joint lesions were categorized according to the widely used Rockwood classification. Results This study analyses 96 questionnaires. We included 46 (47.9%) colleagues in group trauma and 50 (52.1%) in group orthopedics. Most of the colleagues (98.9%) prefer non-operative treatment of type I and type II AC lesions. Similarly, 96.8% agree on surgical treatment of types IV, V, and VI lesions. The treatment of type III lesions is performed in 41.6% of cases non-operatively and in 58.4% of cases surgically. Trauma-associated colleagues are 3.4 times more likely to treat AC lesions with a hook plate compared to orthopedic-associated colleagues (p = 0.05). In decreasing order, the most commonly used non-surgical technique is sling immobilization (63.7%), and the most commonly performed surgical treatment is the hook plate (41.1%) in treating type III injuries. Conclusion This study shows a distinct difference in treatment of AC joint injuries depending on the training of the physician. Further, the need for high-quality studies arises to define the optimal treatment of type III lesions.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40001-019-0376-7Acute acromioclavicular separationArthroscopically assisted acromioclavicular joint stabilizationHook plate stabilizationRockwood typ III lesion
spellingShingle F. Allemann
S. Halvachizadeh
M. Waldburger
F. Schaefer
C. Pothmann
H. C. Pape
T. Rauer
Different treatment strategies for acromioclavicular dislocation injuries: a nationwide survey on open/minimally invasive and arthroscopic concepts
European Journal of Medical Research
Acute acromioclavicular separation
Arthroscopically assisted acromioclavicular joint stabilization
Hook plate stabilization
Rockwood typ III lesion
title Different treatment strategies for acromioclavicular dislocation injuries: a nationwide survey on open/minimally invasive and arthroscopic concepts
title_full Different treatment strategies for acromioclavicular dislocation injuries: a nationwide survey on open/minimally invasive and arthroscopic concepts
title_fullStr Different treatment strategies for acromioclavicular dislocation injuries: a nationwide survey on open/minimally invasive and arthroscopic concepts
title_full_unstemmed Different treatment strategies for acromioclavicular dislocation injuries: a nationwide survey on open/minimally invasive and arthroscopic concepts
title_short Different treatment strategies for acromioclavicular dislocation injuries: a nationwide survey on open/minimally invasive and arthroscopic concepts
title_sort different treatment strategies for acromioclavicular dislocation injuries a nationwide survey on open minimally invasive and arthroscopic concepts
topic Acute acromioclavicular separation
Arthroscopically assisted acromioclavicular joint stabilization
Hook plate stabilization
Rockwood typ III lesion
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40001-019-0376-7
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