Percutaneous double-button fixation method for treatment of acute type III acromioclavicular joint dislocation

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the functional and radiological results of patients treated with the percutaneous double-button technique for acute acromioclavicular (AC) joint dislocation. Methods: A retrospective evaluation was performed of 13 patients surgically treated for acute Type III AC joint dislocation with the percutaneous double-button fixation method. The coracoclavicular (CC) distance of the affected side was compared with that of the healthy side on anterior-posterior radiographs obtained at the final follow-up. In the functional evaluation, Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH), Constant, and visual analog scale (VAS) scores were used. Results: The 13 patients in the study included 12 males and 1 female with a mean age of 43.4 years (range: 22–60 years). The mean follow-up period was 13.61 months (range: 9–24 months). The mean CC distance on the operated side was 9.23 mm (range: 8–15 mm), and when compared with the healthy side, no statistically significant difference was observed. Preoperative Constant scores of a mean of 30.3 (range: 18–42) increased to 84.4 (range: 70–90) at the final follow-up. Preoperative DASH scores had a mean of 14.1 (range: 11–28) and decreased to 0.4 (range: 0–3) at the final followup (p 0.001). Mean preoperative VAS score was 6.0 (range: 5–8), which decreased to 0.6 (range: 0–3) at the final follow-up (p 0.001). Conclusion: The percutaneous double-button fixation technique is a safe, practical, and effective fixation method that can be used as an alternative to arthroscopic and open methods for acute Type III AC joint dislocations.