Functional Outcome of Double Endobutton Technique in Acute Acromioclavicular Joint Dislocation: A Prospective Observational Study.
- 1Department of Orthopaedics, Peoples College of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.
- 2Department of Orthopaedics, Gujarat Adani Institute of Medical Sciences, Kachchh, Gujarat, India.
Abstract
Acute acromioclavicular (AC) joint dislocations are frequent shoulder-girdle injuries in young and physically active adults. High-grade injuries disrupt both AC and coracoclavicular (CC) stabilizers and frequently require operative stabilization. The double endobutton technique reconstructs CC stability using a suspensory construct and may permit stable reduction with early functional recovery. This prospective observational study included 30 patients aged 18-60 years with closed acute Rockwood type III-VI AC joint dislocation treated with the double endobutton technique at a tertiary care orthopedic department from March 2024 to December 2025. Functional outcomes were assessed using shoulder abduction, forward flexion, constant shoulder score (CSS), and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) preoperatively and at 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months. Radiological outcome was assessed using CC distance on radiographs. Complications and maintenance of reduction were recorded during follow-up. The mean age was 38.5 ± 11.0 years; 24 patients (80.0%) were male. Road traffic accidents were the most common mechanism of injury (46.7%), and Rockwood type V was the most frequent injury grade (46.7%). Mean shoulder abduction improved from 65 ± 10° preoperatively to 170 ± 8° at 6 months, whereas forward flexion improved from 70 ± 12° to 172 ± 7° (P < 0.001). Mean CSS increased from 32.6 ± 6.4 to 92.4 ± 5.6 (P < 0.001), and mean VAS decreased from 7.2 ± 1.1 to 1.1 ± 0.5 (P < 0.001). Mean CC distance reduced from 23.2 ± 6.82 mm preoperatively to 12.0 ± 2.56 mm immediately after surgery and remained stable at 12.5 ± 2.56 mm at 6 months. An excellent or good functional outcome was achieved in 26 patients (86.7%). Reduction was maintained in 29 patients (96.7%), and complications were limited to one case each of loss of reduction, superficial infection, and implant irritation. Double endobutton fixation for acute AC joint dislocation produced significant pain relief, near-normal shoulder motion, excellent functional recovery, maintained radiological reduction, and a low complication rate at 6 months. The technique represents an effective and safe surgical option for acute high-grade AC joint dislocations in appropriately selected patients.
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BibTeX
@article{ashwinbhai2026functional,
title = {{Functional Outcome of Double Endobutton Technique in Acute Acromioclavicular Joint Dislocation: A Prospective Observational Study.}},
author = {Gohel Yuvraj Ashwinbhai and Sanjeev Mahawar and Abhinendra Singh and Harshil Vachhani and Nilesh Gupta and Ajinkya Vinod Mahajan},
journal = {Journal of orthopaedic case reports},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.13107/jocr.2026.v16.i11.8498},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42997102},
note = {CC BY-NC},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Functional Outcome of Double Endobutton Technique in Acute Acromioclavicular Joint Dislocation: A Prospective Observational Study.
AU - Gohel Yuvraj Ashwinbhai
AU - Sanjeev Mahawar
AU - Abhinendra Singh
AU - Harshil Vachhani
AU - Nilesh Gupta
AU - Ajinkya Vinod Mahajan
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/01
JO - Journal of orthopaedic case reports
DO - 10.13107/jocr.2026.v16.i11.8498
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42997102
AB - Acute acromioclavicular (AC) joint dislocations are frequent shoulder-girdle injuries in young and physically active adults. High-grade injuries disrupt both AC and coracoclavicular (CC) stabilizers and frequently require operative stabilization. The double endobutton technique reconstructs CC stability using a suspensory construct and may permit stable reduction with early functional recovery. This prospective observational study included 30 patients aged 18-60 years with closed acute Rockwood type III-VI AC joint dislocation treated with the double endobutton technique at a tertiary care orthopedic department from March 2024 to December 2025. Functional outcomes were assessed using shoulder abduction, forward flexion, constant shoulder score (CSS), and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) preoperatively and at 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months. Radiological outcome was assessed using CC distance on radiographs. Complications and maintenance of reduction were recorded during follow-up. The mean age was 38.5 ± 11.0 years; 24 patients (80.0%) were male. Road traffic accidents were the most common mechanism of injury (46.7%), and Rockwood type V was the most frequent injury grade (46.7%). Mean shoulder abduction improved from 65 ± 10° preoperatively to 170 ± 8° at 6 months, whereas forward flexion improved from 70 ± 12° to 172 ± 7° (P < 0.001). Mean CSS increased from 32.6 ± 6.4 to 92.4 ± 5.6 (P < 0.001), and mean VAS decreased from 7.2 ± 1.1 to 1.1 ± 0.5 (P < 0.001). Mean CC distance reduced from 23.2 ± 6.82 mm preoperatively to 12.0 ± 2.56 mm immediately after surgery and remained stable at 12.5 ± 2.56 mm at 6 months. An excellent or good functional outcome was achieved in 26 patients (86.7%). Reduction was maintained in 29 patients (96.7%), and complications were limited to one case each of loss of reduction, superficial infection, and implant irritation. Double endobutton fixation for acute AC joint dislocation produced significant pain relief, near-normal shoulder motion, excellent functional recovery, maintained radiological reduction, and a low complication rate at 6 months. The technique represents an effective and safe surgical option for acute high-grade AC joint dislocations in appropriately selected patients.
SN - 2250-0685
SN - 2321-3817
ER -