Patología degenerativa de la articulación acromioclavicular

Acromioclavicular osteoarthritis is a common cause of pain in the anterior part of the shoulder joint, particularly when crossing the arms above the head.

It usually appears in middle-aged men and women, and the suspected diagnosis is based on clinical history and physical examination. The complementary tests and proper and complete therapeutic response to an injection with corticosteroid /anaesthetic solutions confirms their diagnosis.

The instability of this joint is one of the conditions to consider in the differential diagnosis as it presents with a similar clinical picture and similar findings in the physical examination.

There are several treatment options, although initial treatment should be conservative. If there is no clinical response, surgical treatment will be indicated by open or arthroscopic resection of the joint. Meticulous surgical technique in both cases will minimise potential complications and improve the degree of clinical and functional recovery of the patient.