Post-surgical Functional Assessment Following Three Different Types of Surgical Repair in Type III to VI Acromioclavicular Joint Disruption

This study assesses the functional outcomes and associated risks of various surgical procedures for types III to VI acromioclavicular (AC) joint injuries, including Endo button flipping, hamstring grafting, and the suture anchor & eight plate method.Conducted at Saveetha Medical College Hospitals from June 2021 to June 2022, the study involved 21 patients aged 25 to 60 with AC joint injuries, excluding types I and II injuries and those with medical ineligibility.Surgical correction included reconstructing the coracoclavicular ligaments using various techniques, followed by at least one year of follow-up.Functional outcomes were measured using the Constant Murley Score, and radiographic evaluations were performed at set intervals.The mean Constant scores were 92.54, 90.85, and 91.42 for the suture anchor, Endo button flip, and hamstring graft methods, respectively.Although the suture anchor technique had a slightly higher score, the difference was not statistically significant.All methods maintained coracoclavicular distance and provided a good range of motion.Patients treated with suture anchors showed notably fewer complications during the one-year follow-up.In conclusion, all surgical methods resulted in successful outcomes for AC joint injuries of types III to VI, with the suture anchor technique showing a trend toward better functional scores, though without significant differences.Further long-term monitoring is recommended to determine the optimal treatment approach.