Anatomy of the Acromioclavicular Joint and its Clinical Use

Objective To study the ligamentous and bony structure of the acromioclavicular joint to assist acromioclavicular reconstruction and clavicular surgery.Methods 26 adult fresh cadaveric human shoulders were dissected,and ligamentous and bony structures of the AC joint were measured and analyzed.Results The mean distance from lateral clavicle edge to conoid and trapezoid ligaments center was(43.67±6.30) mm and(25.5±3.06) mm,and their clavicle insertion width were(16.92±4.25) mm and(10.33±1.32) mm,respectively.The length of conid ligament was(15.54±3.32) mm,the angle was(-116.25±10.90)°.The axial length of trapezoid ligaments was(9.63±2.28) mm,the angle was(75.42±11.37)°.They showed a V-shaped structure.The distance from superior clavicle to inferior coracoid process was(36.75±3.25) mm.Conclusion Detail morphology data of acromioclavicular joint were given.It could be used intraoperatively for distal clavicle surgery and acromioclavicular joint reconstruction.We believed that resect the distal clavicle no more than 10 mm during AC joint reconstruction would leave the trapezoid ligament safe,and that rebuild the V-shaped structure of the coracoclavicular ligament is necessary to restore its original function.