Arthrosis of the acromioclavicular joint

Synonyms

AC joint osteoarthritis; Osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint

definition

A arthrosis is a Wear and tear in a joint. Often times, this wear and tear is degenerative in nature, that is, it is a type Signs of aging.
However, the likelihood of osteoarthritis occurring can, for example, be due to a trauma (Accident) with joint involvement significantly in younger years increased become.
The AC joint is the joint between the outer portion of the Collarbone (Clavicle) and a protruding bone on the upper part of the shoulder blade, the so-called shoulder roof (Acromion). The AC joint is a part of the shoulder joint and is also called the Shoulder joint designated.

root cause

AC joint osteoarthritis is usually pure degenerative in nature. The joint is considered one of the most common affected by osteoarthritis, which can be partly explained by the fact that it heavy mechanical loads is exposed. At almost all people over 50 years of age find each other osteoarthritis changes of the shoulder joint, but these often remain without complaints.
Various previous ones Trauma can increase the risk of osteoarthritis in the shoulder joint:

• Previously held Fracture of the clavicle (break of collarbone)
• Explosion of the shoulder joint

Both events can occur when falling on the shoulder or the poor occur.

Appointment with a shoulder specialist

I would be happy to advise you!

Who am I?
My name is Carmen Heinz. I am a specialist in orthopedics and trauma surgery in the specialist team of .

The shoulder joint is one of the most complicated joints in the human body.

The treatment of the shoulder (rotator cuff, impingement syndrome, calcified shoulder (tendinosis calcarea, biceps tendon, etc.) therefore requires a lot of experience.
I treat a wide variety of shoulder diseases in a conservative way.
The aim of any therapy is treatment with full recovery without surgery.
Which therapy achieves the best results in the long term can only be determined after looking at all of the information (Examination, X-ray, ultrasound, MRI, etc.) be assessed.

You can find me in:

• Lumedis - your orthopedic surgeon
  Kaiserstrasse 14
  60311 Frankfurt am Main

Directly to the online appointment arrangement
Unfortunately, it is currently only possible to make an appointment with private health insurers. I hope for your understanding!
You can find more information about myself at Carmen Heinz.

Symptoms

Those affected give one creeping beginning and a gradual increase in pain on, especially the Arm lift is called painful felt.
But even at rest, pain can occur, some of which radiate into the throat.
Various symptoms indicate osteoarthritis of the acromioclavicular joint:

• High painful arch: the lateral elevation of the arm from a lift of about 120 ° is reported as painful.
• Positive hyperadduction test: The patient feels this Shoulder painif he jerks the affected arm in front of the body towards the center of the body.

diagnosis

The diagnosis is made clinically (i.e. by the patient's description of the symptoms and the physical examination), the presence of a high painful arc and one positive hyperadduction tests, as well as a punctual pressure pain in the area of ​​the AC joint make the diagnosis probable. Also, you can often get a local swelling observe which is caused by bony attachments or soft tissue swelling.

The preparation of one helps for a reliable diagnosis X-ray imageThis shows the changes typical of osteoarthritis:

• narrowed joint space
• bony attachments (Osteophytes)

However, there is often a clear discrepancy between the X-ray image and the Complaint of the patient, patients with severe osteoarthritis can be clinically completely symptom-free on the X-ray.

therapy

Treatment is done first conservative, i.e. non-operational:

• In addition to the use of painkillers (mostly in the form of NSAIDs, i.e. non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, but also in the form of individual direct cortisone injections into the joint space affected)
• especially physical therapy in question.
  Cortisone therapy for joint diseases includes, for example, iontophoresis, in which a weak electrical current is used to absorb a medicinal substance applied to the skin into the underlying tissue. Ultrasound therapy, in which the tissue is heated to help alleviate symptoms, can also be part of the therapy.

If the above methods do not improve, there is a possibility of one operative removal of outer portion of the collarbone (Resection arthroplasty)

forecast

After surgical therapy, the most patients symptom-free, without that thereby a Movement deficit would be recorded.