Knotless acromioclavicular repair, guv.

Anyone had one or have any experience of them? Basically keyhole surgery, drilling through the collar bone and anchoring into the shoulder blade with high strength sutures then used to pull the collar bone back into position and secured with a “button” fixing, arm then in a sling for 6 weeks whilst the joint mends itself, as far as possible. I think.

Big OTB onto my head and shoulder two weeks back has left me with a grade 3 clav/shoulder separation. NHS consultant glanced at it, said it’ll probably be OK, come back in 6 weeks mate. BUPA surgeon did a mobility assessment, said no it won’t, its separated horizontally as well as vertically, it’s impinging and will cause you issues and you almost certainly won’t regain full mobility. He has had a cancellation on Friday and can do it but after that has no availability for weeks by which point it’ll be too late for this procedure and I would need a more invasive procedure. It certainly doesn’t feel right and I’m tempted to go for it but it feels rushed and surgeons like to cut and all that……my thinking was always that surgery is best avoided wherever possible

Was hoping to be back on the road bike in a couple of weeks and MTB in a month but this will put that back to end of summer. I want it to be right though, I’ve got enough injuries that I didn’t let heal properly!

I’d give my right arm to get the surgery done Friday.

hope you’re in the mood for some humour, but seriously, yes I’d be right in there to get a proper job done for the long term.

no particular expertise but we all know the background that the NHS are working in.

Surgeons don’t recommend surgery for the sake of it, even privately, i don’t think they get piece rates…

If you look at all the guys who do their clavicle in the World Tour cycling, it amazing how quickly they are back on the bike when they have had corrective surgery.

I think I had something similar done to my left clavicle. I don’t remember the exact name of the surgery, but they certainly used suture.

The fracture was right at the end of the clavicle and not healing.

They didn’t mention drilling a hole, which isn’t to say they didn’t.

My shoulder healed well but I had to wear a sling night and day for six weeks, arm strapped to me, with strict instructions to not remove it. Wasn’t as stinky as you might expect.

There is a fairly large vertical scar so not keyhole in my case.

Now I come to think of it (was over 20years ago) the consultant mentioned something about fishing rod eyes, no clue. I assumed they kind of bound it together, but the drilling a hole thing makes more sense.

Yup, I had lockdown/surgilig procedure. not keyhole, but same concept. happy with the results. I started a similar thread, I’ll see if I can dig it out.

Edit: https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/separated-shoulder-grade-34-surgery/

No complaints at all 7 years on.

Good luck with yours!

Thank!  Loads of good info in there. Think I’m going to go for it

keep us posted!

Like others I’ve had surgery on separated acromioclavicular joint. Shaved the end off my clavicle then a suture and a screw to hold it in place. Not keyhole though.

Main thing was Physio to get range of motion back in it. I was told to sling it for 6 weeks too. (possibly because I told then I would likely overdo it). If I had to do it again I would start movement and physio as early as possible as it took a lot of work to get full mobility back for me.

Otherwise happy but to get back on the bike asap `I’d be asking how quick you can start physio and range of movement exercises

I reckon that’s a good shout.  How long ago did you have it done?

About 2.5 years ago. It’s stable now and have full range of movement. Even been back on the judo mat although there was a definite psychological barrier with not wanting to break it again to overcome with that.

@scud While I’m not suggesting it’s a factor here, in the private sector they do get piece rates, but not in the NHS.

For mine (also G3), my (private) surgeon recommended leaving it and see how it goes – he had lots of other bits to work on mind. If I worked with my arm above my shoulder regularly (builder, violin player, painter), he suggested surgery would be needed for mobility. I’ve not had any issues since (2015), but am a little lopsided. It’s a useful aero gain for TT’s as I can fold my shoulder in more on the RHS. I won’t be breaking the LHS for more gains though! Standard recommendation is not to correct, so if it’s suggested for you, there will be a good reason. I’d take it (in fact, I had my wrist rebuilt at similar short notice to you, but left the AC joint alone on his recommendation).

Well, it’s done. On train home.

@TiRed – you were bang on with your online bike fit a few years back, thanks. Changed from an XL Defy to an L and much happier. Can’t wait to get back out on it!