{
  "abstract": "Acromioclavicular (AC) joint dislocation accounts for a substantial proportion of shoulder injuries, and chronic or neglected cases - where the coracoclavicular (CC) ligaments have lost healing potential - pose particular management challenges. Numerous surgical techniques exist, but many are limited by graft weakness, hardware complications, or cost. This study presents a technique for chronic AC joint reconstruction using synthetic tape combined with lateral clavicle excision. In this retrospective study, 11 patients with delayed presentation (≥6 weeks post-injury) and Rockwood grade 3-5 AC joint dislocation underwent surgery using a 30 cm × 5 mm Mersilene tape to reconstruct the CC ligaments, without fixation hardware or grafts, combined with lateral clavicle excision. Patients were assessed pre- and post-operatively using the AC joint instability (ACJI) score, visual analog scale (VAS) pain score, and Constant-Murley score, with follow-up to 2 years. Mean patient age was 46.6 years, with a male-to-female ratio of 3:1. The mean ACJI score improved from 63.7 pre-operatively to 81.4 at 2 years. VAS pain score improved from 6.41 pre-operatively to 2.68 at 6 months and 1.25 at 12 months. Constant-Murley score improved from 51 to 92.08 at 12 months. One patient had a 20% vertical clavicle displacement without clinical complaints; all other patients achieved stable, satisfactory outcomes in pain, cosmesis, and shoulder function. Unlike techniques reliant on graft healing or hardware fixation - which carry risks of graft weakening, stress fracture, or implant-related complications - this Mersilene tape technique avoids implant removal and provides durable mechanical support for CC ligament reconstruction. It offers a cost-effective alternative to imported graft materials while achieving comparable or superior functional outcomes. This synthetic tape-based technique for chronic AC joint reconstruction is rapid, reproducible, and cost-effective, providing durable and predictable clinical outcomes with low morbidity.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Orthopedics, Shatabdi Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.",
    "Department of Orthopedics, Bombay Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India."
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 2,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Vishal Rathod",
      "orcid": "0009-0003-4247-8790"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Parag Munshi"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/a2v075c8m6xzy.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.13107/jocr.2026.v16.i11.8554",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13740893",
  "id": "a2v075c8m6xzy",
  "issns": [
    "2250-0685",
    "2321-3817"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42997078",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2732|Shoulder and Clavicle Injuries"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7225588917",
  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13740893?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13740893",
  "pmid": "42997078",
  "published": "2026-11-01",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/a2v075c8m6xzy.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-09T15:20:34Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42997078",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42997078"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2732|Shoulder and Clavicle Injuries",
      "subfield": "surgery"
    }
  ],
  "title": "An Innovative Approach to Chronic and Neglected Acromioclavicular Joint Dislocation: A Cost-Effective and Reliable Solution.",
  "title_text": "An Innovative Approach to Chronic and Neglected Acromioclavicular Joint Dislocation: A Cost-Effective and Reliable Solution.",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-09T15:20:34Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/a2v075c8m6xzy",
  "venue": "Journal of orthopaedic case reports",
  "versions": []
}