Shoulder Separation Research Paper

Shoulder separation is a profound medical injury. Often, the general public uses shoulder separation and shoulder dislocation synonymously when the two are entirely different injuries involving the shoulder. Shoulder separation involves loss of articulation of the acromioclavicular (AC) joint between the acromion and distal end of the clavicle (“Acromioclavicular separation”, n.d.). AC joint separation results in a disruption of the acromioclavicular ligament within the shoulder and, occasionally, a deformity of the coracoclavicular (CC) ligaments (Corley & Freeman, 2003, p. 4). Laterally, and in less severe cases, AC joint separation is confined to that of the acromioclavicular ligament including “ligamentous strain….or rupture of the acromioclavicular ligament” (Corley & Freeman, 2003, p.4). However, in more severe cases, the coracoclavicular ligaments, medial to the AC joint, are also involved and separated or deformed in response to injury (“Acromioclavicular separation”, n.d.). Therefore, when AC joint separation occurs, stability within the shoulder is greatly disturbed.

Occurrence

Shoulder separation is not an uncommon event. It

284). It is suggested the operation be a “Weaver-Dunn procedure using Dacron tape or autologous hamstring tendon to restore CC ligament function” (Bradley & Elkousy, 2003, p. 284). In type V injuries, the treatment is operative because “these injuries have significant disruption of the deltotrapezial fascia with pronounced superior displacement of the distal clavicle” (Bradley & Elkousy, 2003, p. 284). Although type VI injuries are rare, “they are treated with open reduction and internal fixation techniques” (Bradley & Elkousy, 2003, p. 285). No matter what type of separation occurs, stability needs to be provided by both the CC and AC ligaments to restore proper stabilization (Provencher & Romeo, 2012, p.