Ac Joint Ligament Sprain

The joint tends to be quite prone to injury especially in sport persons who participate in contact sports or bicycling.

Ac joint ligament sprain. Acromioclavicular joint injuries are characterized by damage to the acromioclavicular joint and surrounding structures. Quick intervention can save your shoulder joint and speed up recovery. The ac acromioclavicular joint is where the uppermost part of your shoulder blade a structure called the acromion meets your collarbone. The ac joint attaches the scapula to the clavicle and serves as the main articulation that suspends the upper extremity from the trunk 160.

Putting your arm in a sling to decrease motion. An acromioclavicular joint sprain is an injury to the ligaments that maintain the joint and keep it in place. Type i or ii ac joint injury treatment. Acromioclavicular ac joint injury treatment goals and options.

Superior acromioclavicular ligament this ligament is a quadrilateral band covering the superior part of the articulation and extending between the upper part of the lateral end of the clavicle and the adjoining part of the upper. Grade 1 is a simple sprain to the ac joint with minor damage to the ligament and no separation of bones. The joint is held together by several ligaments the acromioclavicular ligament and the coracoclavicular ligaments which provide stability to the joint. 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.

The acromioclavicular ligament sprain or even a slight strain is perhaps the most painful and usually happens when direct force is applied to the joint. Treatments for type i and ii injuries include. What is an ac joint sprain. The acromioclavicular sprain is also called a shoulder ac separation.

The acromioclavicular ac joint is formed by your clavicle collarbone and the acromion which is a bony process on the top of your scapula. When ligaments connecting the acromion and collarbone g. The joint is stabilized by three ligaments. If you haven t heard the term ac sprain you may know the condition by its common name a shoulder separation.

An ac joint sprain happens when the ligaments of the ac joint stretch strain or tear. The acromioclavicular joint or ac joint is one of four joints that comprises the shoulder complex. The main goals of treatment for an ac joint injury are to manage pain and allow the torn ligaments to heal. Almost invariably traumatic in etiology they range in severity from a mild sprain to complete disruption.