FVH’s Orthopaedics Dept. is now applying an advanced technique to treat patients affected by dislocations of the AC joint (Rockwood III and V) and chronic instabilities in combination with autogenous replacement of the coracoclavicular ligaments. This technique is called minimally-invasive acromioclavicular joint reconstruction (MINAR). It allows the easy insertion of a fixation button with a double suture cerclage, without the need to rely on arthroscopic visualisation.
The purpose of this procedure is to repair and fix the acromioclavicular joint with a fixation button and suture cerclage. A hole is drilled through the coracoid process with the help of a specific aiming device and a button is placed under the coracoid process. This allows a gentle treatment of an AC joint luxation through an eight cm-long skin incision.
This is a minimally invasive technique as the skin incision measures from 2 cm to 3 cm and the patient is not required to undergo anther surgery to remove the supporting device at a later date. If patients with AC joint dislocation obtain treatment early, the possibility for rehabilitation is as high as 90 per cent.
