Best Practice Case Studies-Case 153 Asset 5 Shoulder Separation/AC Joint Injury

Pdf Summary

A shoulder separation is an injury to the acromioclavicular (AC) joint, where the collar bone meets the top of the shoulder. It is also called an AC sprain or separation and is graded from I to VI based on severity.<br /><br />The most common cause is a direct fall onto the side or top of the shoulder, often during contact sports like hockey or from high-energy falls such as skiing or cycling. Risk factors include contact/collision sports, poor balance or coordination, and a prior shoulder separation.<br /><br />Common symptoms are pain on top of the shoulder, pain with shoulder movement, and a new bump or prominence on the shoulder. Diagnosis is made by a medical professional through physical examination and X-rays; ultrasound, CT, or MRI may sometimes be used but are usually not needed right away.<br /><br />Initial treatment includes ice, pain medication, taping or padding, and a sling for comfort. Type I and II injuries usually do not require surgery. Rehabilitation with range-of-motion and strengthening exercises begins once pain improves. Type III injuries are treated differently depending on the case, but many are managed without surgery. Types IV to VI usually require surgery and prompt specialist referral.<br /><br />Prevention focuses mainly on fully rehabilitating a previous injury, since there are no known methods to prevent a first-time shoulder separation. Athletes may return to sport after pain decreases and normal shoulder motion and strength have returned, often after several weeks depending on injury severity.

Meta Tag

Edition 4th Edition

Related Case 4th Edition, Case 153

Topic Shoulder

Keywords

shoulder separation

acromioclavicular joint

AC sprain

collar bone injury

shoulder injury

contact sports

shoulder pain

X-ray diagnosis

sling treatment

rehabilitation exercises

4th Edition

4th Edition, Case 153

Shoulder