Shoulder Separation
What is a Shoulder Separation?
A Shoulder Separation is an injury to the Acromioclavicular joint on the top of the shoulder. The shoulder joint is formed at the junction of three bones: the collarbone (clavicle), the shoulder blade (scapula), and the arm bone (humerus). The scapula and clavicle form the socket of the joint, and the humerus has a round head that fits within this socket.
A Shoulder Separation occurs where the clavicle and the scapula come together. The end of the scapula is called the acromion, and the joint between this part of the scapula and clavicle is called the acromioclavicular joint. When this joint is disrupted, it is called a shoulder separation. Another name for this injury is an acromioclavicular joint separation, or AC separation.
Is a shoulder separation the same as a Shoulder Dislocation?
No! These two injuries are commonly confused, but they are very different conditions. As described above, the shoulder joint is located at the junction of three different bones: the clavicle, the scapula, and the humerus.
In a Shoulder Separation, the junction of the clavicle and scapula is disrupted. In a Shoulder Dislocation, the humerus (arm bone) is displaced from the socket. Not only are the injuries different in anatomic terms, but the implications for treatment, recovery, and complications are also different.
How does a Shoulder Separation occur?
A shoulder separation is almost always the result of a sudden, traumatic event that can be attributed to a specific incident or action. The two most common descriptions of a shoulder separation are either a direct blow to the shoulder (often seen in football, rugby, or hockey), or a fall on to an outstretched hand (commonly seen after falling off a bicycle or horse).
What are the symptoms of a Shoulder Separation?
Pain is the most common symptom of a separated shoulder, and is usually severe at the time of injury. Evidence of traumatic injury to the shoulder, such as swelling and bruising, are also commonly found.
Are all separated shoulders the same?
No. Separated shoulders are graded according to the severity of the injury and the position of the displaced bones.
Most surgical procedures for treatment of a shoulder separation attempt to reconstruct the important coracoclavicular ligament, and temporarily hold the clavicle in position while the reconstructed ligament heals. A commonly performed procedure uses the nearby coracoacromial ligament, and moves it over to the clavicle. The clavicle is held in position with strong sutures or a metal screw while the ligament is healing into position.
