Shoulder Separation

Shoulder pain isn’t normal, and you shouldn’t ignore it. If pain in your shoulder is making everyday tasks difficult, you need to see an orthopedic specialist with knowledge and experience in shoulder pain diagnosis and treatment, like the experts at the Colorado Center of Orthopaedic Excellence in Colorado Springs, Colorado. If left untreated, a shoulder separation can lead to many complications, including permanent pain, weakened muscles, and loss of range of motion. The renowned team at CCOE is here to help you regain full strength, mobility, and comfort. It’s important to have them evaluate you to determine the severity of your condition and decide which treatment is necessary.

OVERVIEW

A separated shoulder is an injury to the acromioclavicular (AC) joint, which is the area where the collarbone (clavicle) meets the highest point of the shoulder blade (acromion). This occurs when the ligaments between the clavicle and acromion tear or stretch too much. The tear loosens the joint connection between the collarbone and shoulder blade, causing them to separate or move apart from one another painfully. Other names for this condition are acromioclavicular joint separation or AC joint separation. Studies show that acromioclavicular joint injuries may be the cause of as many as 40% of all shoulder injuries. Shoulder separations are common, especially in active young adults. They account for 9% of all injuries involving collision sports like football, lacrosse, and hockey.

ABOUT THE SHOULDER JOINT

The shoulder joints are located at the top of the arm. They connect the arms to the torso. A joint is where the ends of two bones make contact to allow motion. The shoulder is made up of two joints that connect the three bones of the shoulder. The three bones in the shoulder are the shoulder blade (scapula), collarbone (clavicle), and upper arm (humerus). The two joints that make up the shoulder joint are the acromioclavicular joint which joins the top of the shoulder blade (acromion) and the collarbone together. Below it, the glenohumeral joint joins the rounded top of the upper arm bone into the shoulder blade (glenoid cavity of the scapula). The bones of the shoulder are supported by ligaments and tendons, muscles, and cartilage (a flexible material that covers the bones where they meet at the joint allowing the bones to move against each other), bursa (fluid-filled sacs within the joint that provide cushioning) and synovial membrane (a sticky fluid that surrounds the joint to lubricate it and facilitate movement).

WHAT IS SHOULDER SEPARATION?

Simply put, a shoulder separation (known as an acromioclavicular (AC) joint sprain), occurs when the ligaments that connect the collarbone to the shoulder blade are torn: Shoulder separations can be mild to severe. Healthcare providers classify acromioclavicular joint separations based on the extent of the injury and how many ligaments are involved. Providers frequently use a rating system called the Rockwood classification of AC joint injuries, which includes:

• Type I: this injury involves a sprain or partial tear of the acromioclavicular (AC) ligaments with no injury to additional ligaments that stabilize the clavicle, called coracoclavicular (CC) ligaments
• Type II: this injury involves a complete tear of the AC ligaments and a sprain or partial tear of the CC ligaments
• Type III: this injury involves a complete tear of the AC and CC ligaments
• Type IV: this injury involves torn ligaments, and the clavicle is pushed back behind the acromioclavicular joint.
• Type V: this injury involves torn ligaments, and the end of the clavicle punctures the muscle above the acromioclavicular joint
• Type VI: this injury involves torn ligaments, and the clavicle pushes downward and becomes lodged underneath your coracoid (part of the shoulder blade)

Read more about Shoulder Separation on our new Colorado Springs Orthopedic News Site – Colorado Springs Orthopedic News. Schedule an appointment with a shoulder specialist today.