Open treatment of complete acromioclavicular dislocations

Acromioclavicular dislocations are ubiquitous in contact sports such as football, hockey, and rugby, however, their management is still controversial. Proponents of conservative, as well as operative treatment continue to discuss which form of treatment provides the best long-term functional result. The purpose of this paper includes 1) a brief review of the literature; 2) a treatment protocol; 3) illustrations of a surgical technique, and; 4) a study of that surgical technique and associated results.