Coracoclavicular Ligament Reconstruction Using TightRope for Delayed Grade III Acromioclavicular Joint Injury After Ipsilateral Diaphyseal Clavicle Fracture Fixation: Surgical Technique and Review of Current Literature

Abstract

Athletes commonly sustain high-energy direct impact injuries to the shoulder, with acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) injuries accounting for over half. Ipsilateral ACJ injury and diaphyseal clavicle fracture occur nearly 7% of the time. There is limited literature offering treatment suggestions for this unique injury pattern and limited evidence providing guidance to suggest which injury patterns should be treated operatively or nonoperatively. Here, we present successful treatment of a high-level athlete utilizing a Knotless TightRope XP placed through a superior clavicle plate with successful return to full activity at 6 months postoperation. The TightRope technique offers the ability to augment through a preexisting superior clavicular plate in a low-profile manner and promote easy suture tensioning to obtain and maintain reduction of the injured ACJ.