Abstract
We reviewed 36 patients (39 shoulders) who had undergone arthroscopic Mumford procedure via a two superior portal technique for isolated acromioclavicular joint pain, using the Simple Shoulder Score (SSS) and a subjective outcome questionnaire, which included views about the cosmesis of the scars. The mean age of the 32 men and four women was 36 years (19 to 57) and 14 shoulders were on the dominant side. The mean follow-up was 22.7 months (14 to 47). Twenty-five patients reported a history of trauma, including six rugby injuries and five repetitive injuries sustained while bodybuilding.
The mean SSS was 11.5 out of 12. Subjectively 25 shoulders were rated excellent, eight good, two moderate and four poor. In 31 shoulders (79.5%) pain resolved completely. Twenty-five patients considered small scars either very important or extremely important and 33 were either extremely happy or very happy with their scars.
Arthroscopic excision of the distal clavicle via superior portals preserves the capsule-ligamentous structures stabilising the acromioclavicular joint. The procedure gives an excellent subjective outcome. Those patients with a poorer subjective outcome were older, with an increased possibility of occult shoulder pathology.
The abstracts were prepared by Professor M. B. E. Sweet. Correspondence should be addressed to him at PO Box 47363, Parklands, Johannesburg 2121, South Africa.
