Biomechanical Study on the Treatment of Acromioclavicular Joint Dislocation by Coracoclavicular Ligament Reconstruction With a Novel EndoButton Plate Combined With Suture Anchor

Zhe Song Honghui Hospital,Xi'an Jiaotong University https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9156-0094 Chen Wang Honghui Hospital,Xi'an Jiaotong University Na Yang Honghui Hospital,Xi'an Jiaotong University Yangjun Zhu Honghui Hospital,Xi'an Jiaotong University Kun Zhang Honghui Hospital,Xi'an Jiaotong University Yusheng Qiu (  yvshengqiu1957@163.com ) The First A liated Hospital,College of Medicine,Xi'an Jiaotong University Anhui Provincial Hospital


Background
Acromioclavicular joint dislocation is a common clinical joint dislocation that accounts for 2 -16% of total joint dislocations and 12% of shoulder injuries, mostly occurring in young adults [1,2]. Its treatment has been controversial for centuries [3,4].A profound understanding of the anatomy and biomechanics of the acromioclavicular joint enables its current treatment to focus on anatomical reconstruction, to reduce the pain in the shoulder joint, and improve its strength and endurance [5,6]. The coracoclavicular ligament is a thick and strong stabilizer of the lateral clavicle in the vertical direction [7,8]. Therefore, anatomical reconstruction in patients with acromioclavicular joint dislocation should be the reconstruction of coracoclavicular ligament [9,10]. Although acromioclavicular joint dislocation is exposed to advanced medical concepts and techniques with much more effective treatment, no method or internal xation is effective. In this study, a new internal xation system of suture anchor and EndoButton (5 mm suture anchor with 10 mm EndoButton plate) was designed according to the anatomical and biomechanical characteristics of the acromioclavicular joint. The biomechanical stability of the cadaveric specimens was tested to provide a new method for clinical treatment of acromioclavicular joint dislocation. A comparative study was also carried out with clinically common internal xation methods to determine its e cacy in treating acromioclavicular joint dislocation.

Specimen materials and production
Twelve complete shoulder joint specimens were xed with 5% formalin solution. These cadaveric specimens were provided by the Human Anatomy Experimental Center of Xi'an Medical College, without information on gender and age as it was disassembled into individual shoulder joints. Redundant soft tissues (deltoid and trapezius) were stripped off from the specimens, the acromioclavicular joint was kept about 8 cm long near the clavicle, the scapula was kept intact, and the proximal humerus was kept about 20 cm long. Soft tissues around the ligaments were stripped off to expose the ligaments (oblique and conical ligament), keeping them intact to dissect the acromioclavicular and coracoclavicular ligaments (oblique and conical ligament) ( Figure 2).

Experimental method
Twelve complete shoulder joint specimens were divided randomly into four groups A, B, C, and D (n = 3), and the acromioclavicular ligament was cut-off in each group. First, a quasi-static non-destructive experiment was circulated of coracoclavicular ligament until its function failed. Four different internal xation materials were used to reduce and x the acromioclavicular joint. Group A was treated with 3.5 mm clavicular hook locking compression plates, Group B with 5 mm suture anchor, and Group C with 10 mm EndoButton plate. Group D was treated with a novel combination of 5 mm suture anchor with 10 mm Endobutton plate. X-ray uoroscopy of the restored acromioclavicular joint was used to evaluate the internal xation position and acromioclavicular joint reduction ( Figure 3). Finally, the shoulder joint was rmly xed on an electronic universal testing machine (100KN) with a self-made stationary xture, to conduct a destructive static tensile mechanical test on each specimen vertically at a 100 mm/min load speed. The load-displacement curve was recorded using a computer connected with the universal mechanical testing machine, and the failure strength and reasons for internal xation were also recorded ( Figure 4).

Statistical analysis
All data were expressed as X±σ and analyzed using SPSS 19.0 (SPSS, Co., Ltd., U.S.A). Initially, the data were analyzed by the homogeneity test of variance. Variance analysis was carried out for grouped comparison of biomechanical load and pairwise comparison between Group D and the other groups. A Pvalue less than or equal to 0.05 was considered statistically signi cant.

Results
Average load-to-failure of the coracoclavicular ligament in groups A, B, C, and D were 373.4 ± 0.57 N, 373.6 ± 0.62 N, 374.4 ± 0.68 N, and 373.9 ± 0.15N, respectively (P > 0.05). After internal xation failure, Group A had two specimens with clavicular fracture and one with acromial fracture, with an average loadto-failure of 409.8 ± 2.92 N. Group B and D had three specimens with prolapse of anchor, with average load-to-failure of 293.5 ± 4.10 N and 374.2 ± 0.40 N, respectively. Group C had three specimens with a basilar coracoid fracture with an average load-to-failure of 373.2 ± 2.35 N. The biomechanical load of internal xation failure among the groups were statistically different. By pairwise comparison, Group D was signi cantly different from Group A and B in the failure load of internal xation (P < 0.05), but not Group C (P > 0.05) (Tables 1 and 2).

Discussion
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 e cacy 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 xation to treat acromioclavicular joint dislocation. Due to several advantages, orthopedic surgeons prefer this method of treatment [12,13]. Speci cally, it features a complete anatomical design, extra-articular plate placement, no damage to joint, little in uence on rotator cuff, rm xation, 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 xation, shoulder joint pain, traumatic arthritis, subacromial osteolysis, redislocation 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 xation 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 xation 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 xed 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 in ltrates the anchor suture. Therefore, mutual friction of sutures decreases and the suture knot slips. Nevertheless, this study could not prove the e cacy 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 diversi ed, 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 xation. Such a slight movement tted 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 signi cantly raised the incidence of coracoid process fracture, damaging peripheral nerves and blood vessels.
By analyzing these treatment methods, a new internal xation 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 di culty 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 xation 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 insigni cantly 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 xation 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 ts the biomechanical characteristics of the acromioclavicular joint.
The specimens in the study were old shoulder joint specimens xed with 5% formalin solution, that cannot represent fresh specimens considering prolonged xation and dehydration of their ligaments and bones, which explains the errors in the measured data.

Abbreviations
Not applicable.

Declarations
Ethics approval and consent to participate This study was approved by the Institutional Review Committee of Honghui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University. All procedures involving human participants were conducted in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. All patients signed informed consent forms prior to the study.

Consent for publication
Not applicable.

Availability of data and materials
We state that data will not be shared because all raw data were used to prepare the gures included in the article.

Competing interests
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Funding
This research had received Shaanxi Social Development Science and Technology Project (2015SF143).
Authors' contributions ZS, KZ and YSQ designed the study. CW and NY collected the data. ZS, CW and NY performed the statistical analysis and interpreted the results. ZS and YSQ drafted the manuscript. The nal manuscript was approved by all authors. Tables   Table 1 Group comparison of the mechanical load of coracoclavicular ligament rupture and internal xation failure Table 2 Pairwise comparison of mechanical loads of internal xation failure   Reduction, xation, and X-ray results of acromioclavicular joint a: Clavicle hook locking compression plate; b: Suture anchor; c: Endobutton plate; d: Combination of suture anchor with EndoButton plate; e: Xray results of clavicular hook locking compression plate; f: X-ray results of suture anchor; g: X-ray results of EndoButton plate; h: X-ray results of suture anchor-EndoButton plate. Figure 4