Coracoacromial ligament division

Abstract

The object of this paper is to report on the findings of a retrospective study of 40 patients with 41 shoulders with persistent painful arc syndrome secondary to a chronic coracoacromial ligament inflammation who un derwent simple coracoacromial ligament division at the Toronto East General and Orthopaedic Hospital be tween January 1973 and June 1979. Initial therapy was always nonoperative. Surgical intervention was re served for patients who did not respond to conservative management and who had a painful arc with tenderness of the coracoacromial ligament. The aim of the cora coacromial ligament division was to relieve impinge ment by releasing the coracoacromial arch. Patients were carefully examined to rule out associated neck pathology, rotator cuff problems, and lesions of the acromioclavicular joint. Any patients with significantly large osteophytes under the anterior acromion were excluded. Forty patients (41 shoulders) were ques tioned and examined in followup. There were 29 males and 11 females. The ages ranged from 21 to 72 years (average 43.5 years). In 21 shoulders (51 %), there was a history of trauma as the initiating factor. The follow up ranged from 8 to 76 months (average 36.3 months). According to a described rating system, the results were satisfactory to excellent in 39 of 41 shoulders (95%) and unsatisfactory in two of 41 shoulders (5%). The back to work time ranged from 1 to 16 weeks (average 5.7 weeks). Age did not influence the results. There were no complications. The operation was judged to be simple and effective for treatment of persistent painful arc syndrome secondary to cora coacromial ligament inflammation.