Ac Joint Injury Grade
It takes into account not only the acromioclavicular joint itself but also the coracoclavicular ligament the deltoid and trapezius.
Ac joint injury grade. The rockwood classification 1998 is the most common classification system in use for acromioclavicular joint injuries 3. For a grade 1 injury it takes about 6 weeks for the ligaments to heal. Jeff padalecki orthopedic shoulder specialist in the greater austin texas area. Ac joint injuries are graded from 1 6 using the rockwood scale which classifies injuries in relation to the extent of ligament damage and the space between the acromion and clavicle.
Grading of an ac joint injury. This well known 6 type system is a modification of the earlier 3 class classification system described by allman 1967 2 and tossy 1963. Injury results from direct trauma such as a direct fall on the point of the shoulder and if the distal clavicle is prominent then the patient probably has a high grade injury. The most commonly used classification system recognises 6 severities of ac joint injury.
For more resources on the ac joint separation grading scale or to determine your grade of injury with the assistance of an ac joint separation grading x ray and mri please contact dr. For a grade 3 injury which usually involves surgery it may take about 3 months. Reduce overusing your shoulders. Almost invariably traumatic in etiology they range in severity from a mild sprain to complete disruption.
Acromioclavicular joint injuries are characterized by damage to the acromioclavicular joint and surrounding structures. The injury results in considerable pain swelling and loss of shoulder movement. A common injury to the ac joint is dislocation often called ac separation or shoulder separation. Depending on the severity of the injury it will heal by itself or if complicated surgical intervention may be required.
For a grade 2 injury it may take 6 12 weeks. Return to play up to 3 weeks. This is not the same as a shoulder dislocation which refers to dislocation of the glenohumeral joint. Grade 1 sprains involve only partial damage to the joint capsule and the ac ligament.
1 mild an athlete with a grade 1 injury of the ac joint will experience tenderness and discomfort palpation and movement of the joint. The ideal operative technique for the management of high grade ac injuries and the ideal graft choice for ac joint reconstruction autograft allograft or synthetic graft is a matter of ongoing.