Conservative treatments are recommended for Rockwood type I and II dislocation of the acromioclavicular joint. In contrast, surgical treatment is used for high-grade lesions (Rockwood IV-VI) involving coracoclavicular ligament leading to clavicle dislocation. Normal anatomy of the acromioclavicular joint can correct its severe deformity and reduce discomfort and secondary degenerative changes. Although controversial, surgery is recommended for manual workers with Rockwood type-III dislocation of the acromioclavicular joint [11]. Currently, treatment methods of acromioclavicular dislocation have increased that emphasize the biomechanical principle of acromioclavicular joint reduction. Clavicular hook locking compression plate, suture anchor, and Endobutton plate, with high efficacy in treating acromioclavicular joint dislocation, are commonly used clinical treatment methods. However, they are subject to shortcomings and complications. Thus, a new type of suture anchor combined with EndoButton plate was designed in this study according to the biomechanical characteristics of the acromioclavicular joint to treat acromioclavicular joint dislocation.
A clavicular hook locking compression plate is clinically the most widely used internal fixation to treat acromioclavicular joint dislocation. Due to several advantages, orthopedic surgeons prefer this method of treatment [12, 13]. Specifically, it features a complete anatomical design, extra-articular plate placement, no damage to joint, little influence on rotator cuff, firm fixation, and availability in early functional exercise. The present biomechanical study revealed that the tensile strength of Group A (up to 409.8 N) was remarkably higher than other groups, as well as the normal coracoclavicular ligament. Although its high tensile strength provides a more stable mechanical environment for the shoulder joint, it changes the normal biomechanics of the acromioclavicular joint; hence in practice, its biomechanical non-compliance. In addition, excessive force on it may lead to a fracture of the clavicle or acromion. It is also accompanied by long-term complications. Some frequently reported complications to include loosening, fracture, and migration of internal fixation, shoulder joint pain, traumatic arthritis, subacromial osteolysis, re-dislocation following plate removal, Subacromial Impingement Syndrome, and second plate removal. Von Heideken et al. [14] reported shoulder pain in 25.5% of patients after clavicular hook plate surgery. Therefore, most clavicular hook plates were used in the early stage for temporary internal fixation and removed 6–12 months after the operation, to avoid complications.
In recent years, suture anchor characterized by small trauma, simple operation, strength, biomechanical compliance, small size, low stimulation, high histo-compatibility, and no need for removal have become an alternative to treat acromioclavicular joint dislocation. According to Spencer et al. [15], the coracoclavicular ligament endured 500 N, each suture of the suture anchor at 483 N, and the force required to pull a metal anchor was 1150 N. Therefore, researchers believe that suture anchor provide mechanical support for acromioclavicular joint. However, in this study, the acromioclavicular joint in specimens with a suture anchor was found completely dislocated by tensile force at 200 N. The internal fixation failed at 290 N as the suture anchor prolapsed from the coracoid process and the suture knot slipped during the experiment. Firstly, this may be because the specimens are old shoulder joints fixed with formalin. Changes in the organic and inorganic matter in the bone and an imbalanced component ratio could lead to the loss in the pull-out strength of the suture anchor and thus the dislocation of the suture anchor. Secondly, the grease in the specimen infiltrates the anchor suture. Therefore, mutual friction of sutures decreases and the suture knot slips. Nevertheless, this study could not prove the efficacy of suture anchor in treating acromioclavicular dislocation, although satisfactory results were reported [16] in treating such dislocation clinically with anchor. Thus more experiments and clinical studies are needed for determining its effectiveness.
Implant materials are increasingly diversified, and thus, implant ligament substitutes are widely used[17]. Among them, the Endobutton plate is popular in the reconstruction of the coracoclavicular ligament. Its anatomical reduction, continuous stability, small trauma, few complications, unnecessary second removal, and high biomechanical compliance have favored its use by clinicians [18, 19].Steinbacher et al. [20] compared the Endobutton plate and clavicular hook plate to treat acromioclavicular joint dislocation. They found that the Endobutton plate made patients much less susceptible to complications with higher satisfaction rates and lower social-economic consumption than clavicular hook locking compression plate. Besides, the Endobutton plate was found to be more in line with the biomechanics of coracoclavicular ligament, as well as acromioclavicular joint, because its average tensile strength (373.2N) is closer to the biomechanical data of normal coracoclavicular ligament (374.6 N). In the tensile test, acromioclavicular joint reduction with the Endobutton plate showed high fatigue resistance and effectiveness. Also, the acromioclavicular joint did not present any subluxation or dislocation but slight movement until a basilar coracoid fracture resulted in the failure of internal fixation. Such a slight movement fitted the characteristics of the acromioclavicular joint. However, the TightRope Endobutton by Arthrex used in this study has a complex operation and requires high accuracy of the bone tunnel. Its repeated correction of bone tunnel significantly raised the incidence of coracoid process fracture, damaging peripheral nerves and blood vessels.
By analyzing these treatment methods, a new internal fixation material -suture anchor combined with Endobutton - was designed according to the advantages of the two materials. (Fig. 2d). This method replacing the Endobutton plate with an anchor at the end of the coracoid process is consistent with the biomechanical properties of the acromioclavicular joint, that reduces the difficulty of operation, avoids the establishment of the bone tunnel, and lowers the incidence of coracoid process fracture, and the risk of peripheral neurovascular injuries. Our study showed that suture anchor-Endobutton could provide an average tensile strength of 374.2 N, not different from Endobutton plate (p > 0.05), but closer to the biomechanical data of the normal coracoclavicular ligament (374.6 N). Its tensile test revealed that the new material shared biomechanical properties with Endobutton. The acromioclavicular joint moved slightly. The clavicle and acromion were kept in a position suitable for anatomy, without dislocation or subluxation, until the anchor was pulled-out from the coracoid process, and the internal fixation failed. Such a slight movement conformed to the characteristics of the acromioclavicular joint, which is much easier to manipulate than Endobutton. However, its tensile properties were insignificantly higher than Endobutton plate because changes in the organic and inorganic matter in the coracoid bone and the imbalanced proportion of components reduced the pull-out strength of the suture anchor. Theoretically, the normal coracoid bone can effectively hold suture anchor and increase the tensile strength of the suture anchor-EndoButton plate. Therefore, this study suggests that the new internal fixation system is effective in treating acromioclavicular joint dislocation.
The newly designed suture anchor-Endobutton plate for coracoclavicular ligament reconstruction with high feasibility that boasts simple operation is effective in reducing acromioclavicular joint and treatment of acromioclavicular joint dislocation and fits the biomechanical characteristics of the acromioclavicular joint.
The specimens in the study were old shoulder joint specimens fixed with 5% formalin solution, that cannot represent fresh specimens considering prolonged fixation and dehydration of their ligaments and bones, which explains the errors in the measured data.