The Acromioclavicular joint (ACJ)
What is it?
The acromioclavicular joint is where the clavicle / collarbone attaches to part of the scapular / shoulder blade. This joint moves during normal shoulder movements, particularly when the arm is high up in air. Common problems which are associated with this joint are arthritis or traumatic injury.
What is it?
The acromioclavicular joint is where the clavicle / collarbone attaches to part of the scapular / shoulder blade. This joint moves during normal shoulder movements, particularly when the arm is high up in air. Common problems which are associated with this joint are arthritis or traumatic injury.
What causes it?
Arthritis is very commonly seen on x-rays at this joint but is often asymptomatic. Injuries to this part of the shoulder are typically sustained when the patient falls onto the tip of the shoulder.
What happens if you do nothing?
If you have symptomatic arthritis of the ACJ it does not generally ‘get better’ by itself but its symptoms can ‘wax and wane’. Injuries to the acromioclavicular joint are variable in their severity – ‘sprains’ often settle by themselves, but more significant ligament injuries can leave permanent problems.
What happens if you do nothing?
If you have symptomatic arthritis of the ACJ it does not generally ‘get better’ by itself but its symptoms can ‘wax and wane’. Injuries to the acromioclavicular joint are variable in their severity – ‘sprains’ often settle by themselves, but more significant ligament injuries can leave permanent problems.
What treatments are there?
Symptomatic acromioclavicular joint arthritis can be improved with physical therapies, steroid injections or surgery in resistant cases. Traumatic damage to the ACJ is often best managed non-operatively for lower grade injuries but when the coracoclavicular ligaments are damaged surgery can be useful for certain individuals.