Arthroscopic acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) resection for asymptomatic ACJ arthritis combined with rotator cuff repair leads to more satisfactory pain relief and decrease reoperation rate when inferiorly directed osteophytes present at the undersurface of ACJ.
Between January 2006 and May 2008, a total of 83 patients (83 shoulders), 40 males and 43 females, who were planned to have arthroscopic repair of a tear measuring 1-3 cm in the anterior-posterior dimension with advanced ACJ arthritis with inferiorly directed osteophytes at the undersurface of the ACJ on MRI were entered into this study. Patients were randomized into two groups. Group 1 included 31 patients, who underwent arthroscopic distal clavicle resection combined with rotator cuff repair. Group 2 included 52 patients, who underwent isolated rotator cuff repair. Patients were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively using the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) score and the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score. Pain, tenderness on ACJ, and cross body adduction test were compared between groups.
The mean follow-up was 31.7 months (range 34-38). The UCLA scores and ASES scores were lower in group 1 at week 6 (p < .05), and week 12 (p < .05), but higher at the last follow-up at 2 years (p < .05) postoperatively. VAS score was higher in group 1 at week 6 (p < .05), and at week 12 (p < .05), but lower in group 2 at the last follow-up (p < .05). Only in group 2, two (3.8%) cases developed ACJ pain during follow-up and one (1.9%) case underwent reoperation for additional ACJ resection.
This study shows that distal clavicle resection combined with rotator cuff repair for asymptomatic ACJ arthritis with inferiorly directed osteophytes lower functional scores due to temporary pain in early postoperative periods, but better functional outcomes with satisfactory pain relief and no reoperation rate were observed after 2 years.