Acromioclavicular joint arthritis
This is the joint where the acromion (part of the shoulder blade) moves next to the clavicle (collar bone).
It often causes pain when reaching overhead or across your body.
Non-surgical treatment: analgesia, steroid injection into the joint.
Surgical treatment: removal of the outer 5mm of the collar bone (lateral clavicle excision). This prevents the 2 bones from rubbing against each other in a painful fashion.
It can be done via keyhole (arthroscopic) surgery or via an incision on the front of the shoulder.
Such surgery is often performed alongside one or more or the following:
- Cuff repair
- Biceps tenotomy / tenodesis
- Subacromial decompression
Shoulder arthritis +/- rotator cuff tear (cuff tear arthropathy)
What is it: shoulder arthritis is most commonly the result of osteoarthritis (wear, tear and
inflammation of the joint). Arthritis can develop in the presence of a chronic rotator cuff tear, due to the abnormal forces placed upon the shoulder. Athritis can also result from inflammatory
arthritis (rheumatoid, gout); joint damage after an injury/fracture (post traumatic arthritis); problems with blood supply to the shoulder (avascular necrosis).
Patient problems: pain, stiffness and weakness,
Non-surgical treatment: analgesia. Injections may be suitable in some cases.
Surgical treatment: reverse shoulder replacement (reverse shoulder arthroplasty)