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An acromioclavicular (AC) joint separation is a common injury among active individuals. This occurs when the clavicle (collarbone) becomes detached from the scapula (shoulder blade). It is typically caused by a direct impact to the shoulder's tip or a forceful blow, often during contact sports. Athletes like football players and cyclists, particularly those who fall over handlebars, are especially prone to AC joint separations.
AC joint separation repair is performed to treat a significant injury to the acromioclavicular joint, where the collarbone (clavicle) meets the highest point of the shoulder blade (acromion). This injury, often caused by falls, sports trauma, or direct blows to the shoulder, leads to pain, instability, and impaired shoulder function. Surgical repair is usually recommended for moderate to severe separations (Grade III and above) or when non-surgical methods fail to restore strength and stability, particularly in active individuals or athletes.
See a doctor if you experience shoulder pain, swelling, visible bump or deformity on top of the shoulder, loss of range of motion, or weakness following a fall or impact injury. Mild AC separations may be treated conservatively, but persistent pain or visible deformity needs evaluation by an orthopaedic or sports medicine specialist for possible surgical repair.
Preparation begins with X-rays and/or MRI to assess the severity of the separation and damage to surrounding ligaments. A physical exam will evaluate strength and function. Prior to surgery, patients undergo pre-anaesthesia clearance and routine blood tests. You’ll be advised to fast for 6–8 hours before the procedure. Instructions will be given on medications to stop, sling usage, and post-op recovery expectations.
AC joint repair can be performed via open surgery or arthroscopically, depending on the severity of the injury and surgeon’s preference.
- Ligament Reconstruction:
Torn ligaments are reconstructed using grafts (synthetic or from your own body) to stabilise the clavicle to the coracoid or acromion. - Clavicle Stabilisation:
Screws, sutures, or tightrope fixation devices are used to reposition and hold the clavicle in place during healing. - Arthroscopic-Assisted Technique:
Minimally invasive, involves smaller incisions and quicker recovery time.
Surgery typically lasts 1 to 2 hours. Most patients go home the same day. A sling is worn for 3–6 weeks, depending on the repair. Total recovery varies but typically takes 3 to 6 months for full return to sports or overhead activity.
- Infection
- Nerve or blood vessel injury
- Recurrent instability or loss of reduction
- Hardware irritation
- Stiffness or frozen shoulder
- Delayed healing of the joint or ligaments
- Restores normal alignment and function of the AC joint
- Relieves chronic pain and shoulder weakness
- Improves range of motion and shoulder stability
- Enables return to active lifestyle or sports
- Prevents long-term complications like arthritis or deformity
Initially, the arm is kept in a sling to protect the joint. Passive motion exercises may begin within a few weeks under supervision. Physical therapy focuses on restoring motion, strength, and gradual return to activity. Overhead or contact sports may be delayed until complete ligament healing. Full return to sports and strenuous activity is often allowed after 12–16 weeks.
AC joint repair has a success rate of 85–95%, especially in younger, active patients. Most individuals regain near-normal shoulder strength, motion, and function. Early surgical intervention in high-grade injuries leads to better outcomes and lower risk of future joint complications.
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Traumatologia XXI
Bilbao, Spain
- This hospital specialises in treating individuals with problems related to their bones, muscles, and joints.
- They treat common pains, such as back pain, neck pain, and leg pain.
- Doctors there can help fix injuries from sports or accidents.
- They utilise modern machines and innovative methods to help people recover faster.
- Some of their treatments include massage, special exercises, and surgeries.
- They can treat conditions such as hernias, sciatica, bunions, and joint pain.
- The hospital is located in Bilbao, Spain, at the Guimón Clinic and 5 Pérez Galdós Street.
- They have a team of young and skilled doctors, led by Dr. Iñaki Mínguez.
- They also help people with muscle and nerve problems.
- The hospital has been serving the community for almost 15 years.
- They focus on giving each patient personal and friendly care.
- The goal is to help everyone move more effectively and experience less pain.
Vinmec Times City
Ha noi, Vietnam
- Vinmec Times City International Hospital is the first hospital to be launched within the Vinmec Healthcare System.
- It is located in the Times City urban complex in Hanoi, offering a central and convenient location for patients.
- The hospital spans 24,670 square meters with a modern infrastructure of seven floors above ground and two basement levels.
- It is the first general hospital in Vietnam to receive JCI accreditation, a globally recognised certification for healthcare quality and safety.
- The medical team comprises highly qualified Vietnamese and international doctors with extensive clinical expertise.
- Vinmec Times City provides comprehensive healthcare services, including outpatient care, inpatient treatment, and emergency services.
- The hospital features specialised departments, including Internal Medicine, Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Orthopaedics, and Neurology.
- It is equipped to perform advanced medical procedures, including robotic-assisted surgery and organ transplants.
- The facility features a world-class IVF centre and offers dedicated services in endocrinology, dermatology, and traditional medicine.
- On-site imaging, radiology, and laboratory departments ensure fast and accurate diagnostic support.
- With a strong focus on patient-centred care, the hospital offers a safe, comfortable, and internationally standardised medical experience.
Apollo Hospitals Bannerghatta
Bangalore, India
Apollo Hospitals Bannerghatta located in Bengaluru, India is accredited by JCI, NABH. Also listed below are some of the most prominent infrastructural details:
- Bed Capacity is 250
- Largest and most sophisticated sleep laboratory in the world
- Technological powerhouse with latest equipments
- 120 slice CT angiogram
- 3 Tesla MRI
- Low energy & High energy Linear Accelerators
- Navigation System in surgical procedures
- 4-D Ultrasound for 4 dimensional sonography
- Digital Fluoroscopy
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- Stereotactic Robotic Radio- surgery
- Autologous Bone Marrow Transplantation
- Robotic assisted surgeries
- Thallium Laser-First in India
- Holmium Laser-First in South India
- Digital X-Ray-First in Karnataka
- 100 plus consultants
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- Four autologous chondrocyte implantations procedure is performed and several more like Spinal angiolipoma excision, Tibial tuberosity shift with MPSL reconstruction
- Biggest series of airway stents in India
- The Minimal Access Surgery Centre (MASC) centre of excellence
Fortis Hospital
Bangalore, India
5.0 ( 1 Reviews )
Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road, Bangalore, has been a leading multi-speciality healthcare institution, offering advanced medical services with a patient-centric approach. The hospital features 400+ beds, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and experienced specialists across various specialities, providing comprehensive and compassionate care. Trusted by patients from India and abroad, Fortis Bannerghatta Road combines modern technology with high-quality treatment to deliver world-class healthcare.
Fortis Hospital
Kolkata, India
Fortis Hospital & Kidney Institute, Kolkata, is a 60-bed specialised centre for Urology and Nephrology, serving patients across Eastern India. Since its inauguration in 1999, the institute has pioneered advanced treatments like lithotripsy, laparoscopic donor nephrectomy, PCNL, and Holmium Laser prostate surgery, and has performed over 570 kidney transplants. Spread over 6 floors, it offers 4 operating theatres, a 12-bed dialysis unit, 24-hour renal emergencies, and a fully equipped laboratory, providing comprehensive, patient-focused care in renal and urological health.
Medipol Mega University Hospital
Istanbul, Turkey
Medipol Mega University Hospital located in Istanbul, Turkey is accredited by JCI. Also listed below are some of the most prominent infrastructural details:
- The Hospital includes 4 centers i.e. general surgery, cardiovascular surgery, oncology, and dentistry
- Medipol patients have access to over 60,000 m2 of the gardens, 26,000 m2 of the five-storied underground parking, 100,000 m2 covered premises and 1,500 members of the stuff
- Capacity of 470 patient beds
- Oncology Center
- Emergency department that can admit up to 134 patients (including general, coronary, KVC and neonatal emergency department)
- 25 Operating rooms
- Medipol Mega University Hospital uses the following innovative technologies- Biplane digital flat-panel angiographic system, Digital flat-panel tomosynthetic mammography, Surgical O-ARM PEROP CT Imaging system, etc.
- Helicopters enabling the transfer of the patient at the most emergency cases
- The Hospital creates a friendly & comfortable ambience for the patients and their relatives with terrace garden suites, normal rooms. Each room is equipped with multimedia services like TV, DVD, Internet, online access from patients bedside, Unlimited Digital Archive pacs and high-quality meal service
- Prayer Room
- 5-starred cafeteria/restaurant
Medicana Haznedar Hospital
Istanbul, Turkey
Medicana Haznedar Hospital located in Istanbul, Turkey is accredited by ISO, JCI. Also listed below are some of the most prominent infrastructural details:
- Covers an area of 3000 sqm
- Emergency Service Department
- Cafeteria/Restaurant
Assuta Hospital
Tel Aviv, Israel
Assuta Hospital located in Tel-Aviv, Israel is accredited by JCI. Also listed below are some of the most prominent infrastructural details:
- Annual numbers for Assuta Hospital group
- 92,000 surgeries
- 683,000 healthcare examinations, ambulatory treatments
- 440,000 imaging tests
- 4,000 (approx.) cardiac catheterization diagnosis, treatments
- 16,000 (approx.) IVF treatments
- 500 (approx.) kinds of surgical procedures
- Assuta Hospital, Tel Aviv, is an important healthcare facility which is recognised for being a surgical specialist.
- Even in the surgical specialty, Assuta Hospital, Tel Aviv performs superlative Minimally Invasive Surgeries.
- Impressive imaging technology is present in the hospital, such as CT (advanced), PET-CT, MRI and two-head nuclear imaging camera.
- 15 Operating Theatres
- 200 plus beds
- Resuscitation units
- 2 monitoring laboratories
Yashoda Hospital, Malakpet
Hyderabad, India
Yashoda Hospital, Malakpet located in Hyderabad, India is accredited by NABH, NABL. Also listed below are some of the most prominent infrastructural details:
- Multi-bed facility
- High-tech labs, modular operation theaters
- Advanced medical equipement
- Dedicated rooms for patients with all facilities
- State-of-art technology
- 24/7 blood bank
- State of the art Cardio-Thoracic Center with the latest CATH LAB Equipment & Modular steel operation theatre
- Neurosurgery department equipped with an operating microscope, high-speed drill & stereotaxy
- 24-hour Emergency services to take care of all kinds of trauma and other orthopedic emergencies
- Pulmonology department equipped with modern gadgets.
- One of the best PFT labs and bronchoscopy units
- Nephrology services include Renal Biopsy, AV Fistulas, AV Grafts & Permanent Catheter Insertions, Hemodialysis; Temporary Access For Dialysis; Peritoneal Dialysis
- Has a comprehensive cancer care unit following a trans-disciplinary & multi-modality approach
- State-of-the-art services of Digital X rays, Flouroscopy, Ultrasonography, OPG, Mammography, CT 64 Slices, MRI, etc.
- Airport Transfer Service
- Scheduling Of All Medical Appointment
- Processing Of Medical Second Opinion
- Provide Language Interpreter
- Special Dietary Needs / Religious Arrangement
- Coordination Of Admissions Process
- Cost Estimates For Anticipated Treatments
- Foreign Exchange service
- Billing and Finance Related Service
- Providing Information Of Patient’s Relatives Back Home
Anadolu Medical Center
Kocaeli, Turkey
Anadolu Medical Center located in Kocaeli, Turkey is accredited by ISO, JCI. Also listed below are some of the most prominent infrastructural details:
- The Medical Center is present over an area of 188.000 square meters. This is inclusive of the indoor area which is 50 thousand square meters.
- Let us also have a look at some of the important infrastructure pointers of this hospital.
- Bed capacity of 201
- Outpatient Clinic at Ata?ehir
- Bone Marrow Transplantation Center that opened its doors in June 2010
- Developed and using latest technologies such as IMRT and Cyberknife
- Multidisciplinary care
- An OECI-designated clinical cancer centre
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+99Process Involved for AC Joint Separation Repair
- Orthopaedic Consultation: The initial stage is a diagnosis of the type of AC joint separation and determining symptoms as well as changes in a patient's life.
- Physical Examination and Imaging: Full physical examination and imaging is done to assess joint alignment and the extent of ligament damage.
- Non-Surgical Modality of Treatment: Serious injury will require conservative therapy, such as rest, sling immobilisation, and pain management
- Consent: This takes place after fully describing the treatment and risks involved.
- Surgical treatment: The operation may be ligament reconstruction or fixation for significant ligament damage or joint instability.
- Rehabilitation: Following treatment, physiotherapy is prescribed to restore full shoulder mobility and shoulder strength and to retain normal function.
- Traumatic Injuries
- Chronic Instability of the AC Joint
- Arthritis of the AC Joint
- AC Joint Separation
- Hook Plate Fixation
- Bosworth Screw Fixation
- Arthroscopic Fixation of the CC Joint
- The TightRope/EndoButton/Dog Bone technique
- Multiple all-suture anchor technique
- Experiencing severe AC joint separation.
- Patients with persistent pain or instability after conservative treatment.
- Suture buttons
- Allograft implants
- Arthrex
- hook plates
- Ligament Reconstruction
- Distal Clavicle Resection
- Arthroscopic Assessment
- Open Reduction and Internal Fixation (ORIF)
- Capsular Repair
- Subacromial Decompression
- Improved Seizure Control (fewer or no seizures)
- Improved Quality of Life
- Reduced Dependence on Medications
- Minimal Side Effects
- Enhanced Cognitive Function
- Pain Relief
- Improved Shoulder Function
- Stability of the Joint
- Neurologist
- Neurosurgeon
- Psychiatrist
- Fill out the inquiry form: Fill out the form to provide us with the relevant information about your condition.
- Consult with Our Healthcare Expert: One of our qualified specialists will contact you for a consultation.
- Receive a Detailed Treatment Plan: After examining your situation, we will provide you with a detailed treatment plan that includes expert views and cost breakdowns for various choices.
- Choose your preferred option: Choose the treatment option that suits you the best.
